Muramuzi’s dream was to own a livestock farm
Feb 10, 2009
For Bernard Muramuzi, the best investment any farmer with limited land can make is piggery.<br><br>“Pigs produce many offspring, at least twice a year and require less land compared to cattle, sheep and goats,†says Muramuzi, the proprietor of Kwewa
Everyday for the next few months, The New Vision will run a series of stories on wealth creation role models from all over the country for Ugandans who would like to learn from them to generate wealth from our natural resources
By John Kasozi
For Bernard Muramuzi, the best investment any farmer with limited land can make is piggery.
“Pigs produce many offspring, at least twice a year and require less land compared to cattle, sheep and goats,†says Muramuzi, the proprietor of Kwewayo Mixed Farm in Naama, Mukono district.
Setting up a livestock farm was Muramuzi’s childhood dream. In 2003, he bought five acres of land in Naama where he started growing crops. In 2004, he started piggery and poultry farming. He introduced 40 Landrace piglets, local chicken and mixed breed cattle.
“Two years later, I got a setback. The Landrace piglets were not as good as I thought. They were also attacked by a bacterial infection. I lost a good number of them,†recalls Muramuzi.
Since then, Muramuzi has been phasing out the breed. He advises farmers to study pig breeds before taking them on.
“In 2006, when I visited an agricultural trade show in Jinja, I fell in love with the Comborough breed because of its qualities. They directed me to a farmer in Kakiri who had them,†he says.
Muramuzi was impressed when he visited the farmer.
“The pigs were doing well. I bought six piglets from there,†he says.
Today, Muramuzi has no regrets for taking on the Comborough. The sow produces 10 to 15 piglets. Currently, he has a parental stock of over 80 Comborough pigs. In the next two to three years, he is targeting 1,000 pigs, 300 of which will be parental stock.
“The project has cost me sh80m.â€
He sells a two-month piglet at sh70,000, but any additional month means an extra sh20,000.
Muramuzi set up a slaughter house where customers pick dressed pork at sh3,700 per kilogramme.
Recently, Muramuzi bought another 3.5 acres of land near his farm.
“Aspiring farmers should not be discouraged. A small commercial piggery farmer can start with about sh1m and one acre of land,†he says.
There are many breeds of pigs on the world market, but the most common in Uganda include Large White, Landrace, Durock, Hampshire, Large Black and Comborough.
The Landrace has its origin in Denmark and England. It is white with a flat back, long body and narrow head.
The Large White breed, whose origin is England, is white with long legs, ears at an inclined angle, and a broad and medium-disc face. It has a high percentage of lean meat. A sow (mature female pig) produces many offspring. The boar (mature male pig) and sow weigh 400kg and over 350kg respectively.
The Durock breed originates from Spain and Portugal. Its colour ranges from light-golden to dark-red and has a slightly dished face. It’s a large breed with medium length and drooping ears.
The Hampshire breed, which originates from England, has a white belt circling shoulders and front legs, high quality meat and straight ears.
The Large Black breed is black with drooping ears.
“The Comborough was introduced in Uganda at the beginning of February, 2003,†says Muramuzi.
“It is a composite of three breeds: The Large White, Landrace and Durock,†says Dr. David Ssenoga, the farm’s veterinary officer.
He says the aim was to exploit the good qualities from all the three breeds.
The Comborough is white with ears inclined at an angle, a long body and produces up to 19 piglets.
Ssenoga says the body length of a Comborough boar is 208cm and weighs between 350 to 400kg.
“To avoid breed embarrassment, the farmer should select piglets basing on the records of their parents. Farmers should keep records to attract serious customers.
“The piglets should come from families noted for many offspring and early sexual maturity,†he says, adding, they should be healthy, with at least 14 prominent teats.
The Comborough matures early and is disease-resistant, hence reducing on maintenance costs.
Muramuzi also keeps sheep on his farm. He bought three exotic Nigerian breed sheep.
Ssenoga says the breed grows faster and delivers two offspring at a go.â€
He advises sheep farmers to buy the breed when they are four to five months old.
“Currently, we are only selling males at sh150,000 each. We shall sell females when we have reached our target in two years’ time. Buying a male and crossing it with any local breed will also give a farmer an excellent cross-breed.â€
Last year, Muramuzi started rearing local chicken on his farm.
The farm employs seven workers and one veterinary doctor.
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FACT FILE
Name: Bernard Muramuzi
Location of farm: Naama village, Mukono district
Size of the farm: Eight-and-a half acres
Enterprises: Piggery, poultry,
cattle-keeping and crop-growing
How he started: Used his
savings
Winning formula: The love for quality breeds
---------------------------------------
If you know of anyone who has made money through an enterprising venture, nominate them for recognition in the ‘Ugandans Making a Difference Project’.
Write to features@newvision.co.ug, or send a fax to 0414232050
By John Kasozi
For Bernard Muramuzi, the best investment any farmer with limited land can make is piggery.
“Pigs produce many offspring, at least twice a year and require less land compared to cattle, sheep and goats,†says Muramuzi, the proprietor of Kwewayo Mixed Farm in Naama, Mukono district.
Setting up a livestock farm was Muramuzi’s childhood dream. In 2003, he bought five acres of land in Naama where he started growing crops. In 2004, he started piggery and poultry farming. He introduced 40 Landrace piglets, local chicken and mixed breed cattle.
“Two years later, I got a setback. The Landrace piglets were not as good as I thought. They were also attacked by a bacterial infection. I lost a good number of them,†recalls Muramuzi.
Since then, Muramuzi has been phasing out the breed. He advises farmers to study pig breeds before taking them on.
“In 2006, when I visited an agricultural trade show in Jinja, I fell in love with the Comborough breed because of its qualities. They directed me to a farmer in Kakiri who had them,†he says.
Muramuzi was impressed when he visited the farmer.
“The pigs were doing well. I bought six piglets from there,†he says.
Today, Muramuzi has no regrets for taking on the Comborough. The sow produces 10 to 15 piglets. Currently, he has a parental stock of over 80 Comborough pigs. In the next two to three years, he is targeting 1,000 pigs, 300 of which will be parental stock.
“The project has cost me sh80m.â€
He sells a two-month piglet at sh70,000, but any additional month means an extra sh20,000.
Muramuzi set up a slaughter house where customers pick dressed pork at sh3,700 per kilogramme.
Recently, Muramuzi bought another 3.5 acres of land near his farm.
“Aspiring farmers should not be discouraged. A small commercial piggery farmer can start with about sh1m and one acre of land,†he says.
There are many breeds of pigs on the world market, but the most common in Uganda include Large White, Landrace, Durock, Hampshire, Large Black and Comborough.
The Landrace has its origin in Denmark and England. It is white with a flat back, long body and narrow head.
The Large White breed, whose origin is England, is white with long legs, ears at an inclined angle, and a broad and medium-disc face. It has a high percentage of lean meat. A sow (mature female pig) produces many offspring. The boar (mature male pig) and sow weigh 400kg and over 350kg respectively.
The Durock breed originates from Spain and Portugal. Its colour ranges from light-golden to dark-red and has a slightly dished face. It’s a large breed with medium length and drooping ears.
The Hampshire breed, which originates from England, has a white belt circling shoulders and front legs, high quality meat and straight ears.
The Large Black breed is black with drooping ears.
“The Comborough was introduced in Uganda at the beginning of February, 2003,†says Muramuzi.
“It is a composite of three breeds: The Large White, Landrace and Durock,†says Dr. David Ssenoga, the farm’s veterinary officer.
He says the aim was to exploit the good qualities from all the three breeds.
The Comborough is white with ears inclined at an angle, a long body and produces up to 19 piglets.
Ssenoga says the body length of a Comborough boar is 208cm and weighs between 350 to 400kg.
“To avoid breed embarrassment, the farmer should select piglets basing on the records of their parents. Farmers should keep records to attract serious customers.
“The piglets should come from families noted for many offspring and early sexual maturity,†he says, adding, they should be healthy, with at least 14 prominent teats.
The Comborough matures early and is disease-resistant, hence reducing on maintenance costs.
Muramuzi also keeps sheep on his farm. He bought three exotic Nigerian breed sheep.
Ssenoga says the breed grows faster and delivers two offspring at a go.â€
He advises sheep farmers to buy the breed when they are four to five months old.
“Currently, we are only selling males at sh150,000 each. We shall sell females when we have reached our target in two years’ time. Buying a male and crossing it with any local breed will also give a farmer an excellent cross-breed.â€
Last year, Muramuzi started rearing local chicken on his farm.
The farm employs seven workers and one veterinary doctor.
--------------------------------------
FACT FILE
Name: Bernard Muramuzi
Location of farm: Naama village, Mukono district
Size of the farm: Eight-and-a half acres
Enterprises: Piggery, poultry,
cattle-keeping and crop-growing
How he started: Used his
savings
Winning formula: The love for quality breeds
---------------------------------------
If you know of anyone who has made money through an enterprising venture, nominate them for recognition in the ‘Ugandans Making a Difference Project’.
Write to features@newvision.co.ug, or send a fax to 0414232050