Harambe started with few crops, now trains farmers
HARAMBE, harambe’ (Kiswhahi for team work) were the words the late Michael Katende would tell his children everyday as he woke them up at 6:00am. Katende is the brain behind Katende Harambe Rural-Urban Centre in Namugongo, Wakiso district.
By John Kasozi
HARAMBE, harambe’ (Kiswhahi for team work) were the words the late Michael Katende would tell his children everyday as he woke them up at 6:00am. Katende is the brain behind Katende Harambe Rural-Urban Centre in Namugongo, Wakiso district.
The centre trains farmers. It was named after him when he passed away in 1995.
His daughter, Jane Magoba Nyanzi, is the chairperson of the project. She gave up her job with UNICEF in Indonesia to run the farm. “When our father died, it took us three years (1995 to 1997) to pay for the five-acre piece of land on which the farm is located.
“For six years we practised subsistence farming until 2004 when we began growing a variety of crops for sale. We made about sh700,000 the first time,†she says.
Robert Ssemwogerere, the co-director of the centre, says they spent some of the money on a piggery. They bought four sows at sh30,000 each and one boar at sh50,000.
“Some of the revenue was spent on setting up a passion fruit orchard and planting trees,†says Ssemwogerere.
As the pigs matured and multiplied, we sold some of them and invested in planting bananas, mangoes, oranges and avocado.
“We also bought a boar and an exotic goat. In 2006, when many people visited the farm to get farming tips, we decided to turn it into a demonstration centre,†Ssemwogerere explains.
Later, they started rearing goats, rabbits, turkeys, cattle and poultry (local and exotic). They also ventured into bee-keeping, biogas production, tea and sugarcane planting, water harvesting, fish farming and rearing albino rats.
“We were inspired by projects like the Kawanda Agriculture Research Institute (KARI), Kabanyolo University Farm, St. Jude Family Projects, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute in Kajansi, Gasibi Small Scale Farmers and Kenya Institute of Organic Farming,†Ssemwogerere says.
Located in Sabawali-Kyaliwajala, Kira sub-county in Wakiso district, their mission is to provide quality training and extension services to small-scale farmers and partner organisations, through integrated farming in urban and rural communities.
Ssemwogerere says their intention was to reduce hunger and poverty, especially among the small-scale rural and urban farmers in Uganda and the neighbouring countries.
“Many farmers do not consider agriculture a commercial enterprise. Our farm has put in place measures to encourage people to take up intensive commercial farming on a small piece of land,†he says.
Ssemwogerere says they are promoting projects like water harvesting. “A polythene sheet is placed in a pit and covered with strong eucalyptus poles, then a lighter polythene sheet is placed on top, covered with soil and the vegetables planted,†he explains.
This technology can only be used to collect water from the rooftop or storm water. It may be costly, but ensures water security. Moringa seeds, wood ash and cement can be used to purify water for domestic use.
Harambe has a low cost plastic gas bio-digester. The biogas is produced from cow dung.
“We teach people how to make manure from decayed garden weeds, kitchen remains, animal waste and crop residue,†says Ssemwogerere.
He says composite manure improves the soil’s structure and texture, conserves the environment and ensures continuity in farming. “We look at high productivity using low cost farming methods.â€
Ssemwogerere encourages people to breed albino rats because the market is readily available. “Each rat costs between sh5,000 and sh7,000.
The rats occupy little space and their food consumption is low compared to poultry. They feed on maize bran, crushed fish and water. The rats mature in three months and can produce 10 to 15 offspring every month.
“Albino rats chase away the local rats,†says Ssemwogerere. He says, they started rearing the rats when his children would complain that they shared rat specimen during practical lessons at school.
“In 2007, we bought 10 rats from Vienna College in Namugongo and Makerere University and by the end of 2007, the centre had sold over 150 rats to other schools. In 2008, they sold over 200 rats.
Last year, Harambe introduced one-kilogramme albino rats from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A pair costs sh30,000.
Ssemwogerere says the farm has about 1,500 exotic chicken; 700 in Munyonyo, 500 in Namugongo and 300 in Ntinda. They also have 2,000 local breed layers.
They also grow gooseberries (entuntunu) on half an acre.
They harvests 40 to 50 kilogrammes per week, earning about sh150,000 per week. A kilogramme of gooseberries costs sh1,500 in Nakasero Market.
During a good season, they make between sh10m and sh20m at the Namugongo branch, while from the three annexes at Nakawuka-Sekabusolo, Jungo-Sagala and Kasanje, they get about sh5m to sh10m.
Magoba says on average, they make between sh1m and sh2m after all the expenses have been deducted. The farm also grows red pepper, onions, cabbage, cassava, tomatoes and spinach.
For three years, over 100,000 trees have been planted, including 2,000 terminalia, 38,000 pine and 20,000 alkalia species in Nakawuka.
“In 2008, I leased the land at Nakawuka, Ssisa sub-county off Entebbe Road at sh100,000 per acre for year to plant pine and eucalyptus trees.
But when I sold the idea to friends to integrate the trees with gooseberries (entuntunu), they scoffed my idea,†he explains.
From the training and consultancy firm, they make between sh20m and sh40m, especially in June and August.
“Harambe designed a training curriculum with a course that takes eight to 12 weeks,†says Godfrey Kigoye, the training manager of the school. Each trainee pays between sh20,000 and sh25,000 a day.
This includes accommodation. In case of group tours, the cost is subsidised.
Kigoye says farmers are empowered with practical experience and given a chance to learn hands-on skills.
The school also monitors and evaluates agricultural programmes upon agreement with their clients.
During his visit to the farm recently the Katikiiro of Buganda Eng. John Baptist Walusimbi, said the project could be used as a demonstration farm to fight poverty. He advised farmers to add value to their produce.
“Two acres were bought and a conference centre, internet café, canteen and a retail shop set up,†says Henry Stanley Mbowa, an employee.
Harambe has installed a milling plant to process maize from the annexes in Nakawuka. Meanwhile, trials for making livestock feeds are going on in Namugongo.
The feeds will be enriched with shells from lakes Albert and Edward because they are richer in calcium and harder than those from Lake Victoria.
Sserunjogi says the centre will soon start processing chicken and pork sausages. He says they set up a bazaar to sell organically-grown matooke, meat, pork, cassava and tomatoes.
“The new system will reach out to our customers in hotels, stores, institutions and homes.â€
Harambe has five permanent and 18 casual workers.
If you know of anyone who has made money through an enterprising venture, nominate them for recognition.
Write to features@newvision.co.ug, or send a fax to 0414232050
HARAMBE, harambe’ (Kiswhahi for team work) were the words the late Michael Katende would tell his children everyday as he woke them up at 6:00am. Katende is the brain behind Katende Harambe Rural-Urban Centre in Namugongo, Wakiso district.
The centre trains farmers. It was named after him when he passed away in 1995.
His daughter, Jane Magoba Nyanzi, is the chairperson of the project. She gave up her job with UNICEF in Indonesia to run the farm. “When our father died, it took us three years (1995 to 1997) to pay for the five-acre piece of land on which the farm is located.
“For six years we practised subsistence farming until 2004 when we began growing a variety of crops for sale. We made about sh700,000 the first time,†she says.
Robert Ssemwogerere, the co-director of the centre, says they spent some of the money on a piggery. They bought four sows at sh30,000 each and one boar at sh50,000.
“Some of the revenue was spent on setting up a passion fruit orchard and planting trees,†says Ssemwogerere.
As the pigs matured and multiplied, we sold some of them and invested in planting bananas, mangoes, oranges and avocado.
“We also bought a boar and an exotic goat. In 2006, when many people visited the farm to get farming tips, we decided to turn it into a demonstration centre,†Ssemwogerere explains.
Later, they started rearing goats, rabbits, turkeys, cattle and poultry (local and exotic). They also ventured into bee-keeping, biogas production, tea and sugarcane planting, water harvesting, fish farming and rearing albino rats.
“We were inspired by projects like the Kawanda Agriculture Research Institute (KARI), Kabanyolo University Farm, St. Jude Family Projects, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute in Kajansi, Gasibi Small Scale Farmers and Kenya Institute of Organic Farming,†Ssemwogerere says.
Located in Sabawali-Kyaliwajala, Kira sub-county in Wakiso district, their mission is to provide quality training and extension services to small-scale farmers and partner organisations, through integrated farming in urban and rural communities.
Ssemwogerere says their intention was to reduce hunger and poverty, especially among the small-scale rural and urban farmers in Uganda and the neighbouring countries.
“Many farmers do not consider agriculture a commercial enterprise. Our farm has put in place measures to encourage people to take up intensive commercial farming on a small piece of land,†he says.
Ssemwogerere says they are promoting projects like water harvesting. “A polythene sheet is placed in a pit and covered with strong eucalyptus poles, then a lighter polythene sheet is placed on top, covered with soil and the vegetables planted,†he explains.
This technology can only be used to collect water from the rooftop or storm water. It may be costly, but ensures water security. Moringa seeds, wood ash and cement can be used to purify water for domestic use.
Harambe has a low cost plastic gas bio-digester. The biogas is produced from cow dung.
“We teach people how to make manure from decayed garden weeds, kitchen remains, animal waste and crop residue,†says Ssemwogerere.
He says composite manure improves the soil’s structure and texture, conserves the environment and ensures continuity in farming. “We look at high productivity using low cost farming methods.â€
Ssemwogerere encourages people to breed albino rats because the market is readily available. “Each rat costs between sh5,000 and sh7,000.
The rats occupy little space and their food consumption is low compared to poultry. They feed on maize bran, crushed fish and water. The rats mature in three months and can produce 10 to 15 offspring every month.
“Albino rats chase away the local rats,†says Ssemwogerere. He says, they started rearing the rats when his children would complain that they shared rat specimen during practical lessons at school.
“In 2007, we bought 10 rats from Vienna College in Namugongo and Makerere University and by the end of 2007, the centre had sold over 150 rats to other schools. In 2008, they sold over 200 rats.
Last year, Harambe introduced one-kilogramme albino rats from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A pair costs sh30,000.
Ssemwogerere says the farm has about 1,500 exotic chicken; 700 in Munyonyo, 500 in Namugongo and 300 in Ntinda. They also have 2,000 local breed layers.
They also grow gooseberries (entuntunu) on half an acre.
They harvests 40 to 50 kilogrammes per week, earning about sh150,000 per week. A kilogramme of gooseberries costs sh1,500 in Nakasero Market.
During a good season, they make between sh10m and sh20m at the Namugongo branch, while from the three annexes at Nakawuka-Sekabusolo, Jungo-Sagala and Kasanje, they get about sh5m to sh10m.
Magoba says on average, they make between sh1m and sh2m after all the expenses have been deducted. The farm also grows red pepper, onions, cabbage, cassava, tomatoes and spinach.
For three years, over 100,000 trees have been planted, including 2,000 terminalia, 38,000 pine and 20,000 alkalia species in Nakawuka.
“In 2008, I leased the land at Nakawuka, Ssisa sub-county off Entebbe Road at sh100,000 per acre for year to plant pine and eucalyptus trees.
But when I sold the idea to friends to integrate the trees with gooseberries (entuntunu), they scoffed my idea,†he explains.
From the training and consultancy firm, they make between sh20m and sh40m, especially in June and August.
“Harambe designed a training curriculum with a course that takes eight to 12 weeks,†says Godfrey Kigoye, the training manager of the school. Each trainee pays between sh20,000 and sh25,000 a day.
This includes accommodation. In case of group tours, the cost is subsidised.
Kigoye says farmers are empowered with practical experience and given a chance to learn hands-on skills.
The school also monitors and evaluates agricultural programmes upon agreement with their clients.
During his visit to the farm recently the Katikiiro of Buganda Eng. John Baptist Walusimbi, said the project could be used as a demonstration farm to fight poverty. He advised farmers to add value to their produce.
“Two acres were bought and a conference centre, internet café, canteen and a retail shop set up,†says Henry Stanley Mbowa, an employee.
Harambe has installed a milling plant to process maize from the annexes in Nakawuka. Meanwhile, trials for making livestock feeds are going on in Namugongo.
The feeds will be enriched with shells from lakes Albert and Edward because they are richer in calcium and harder than those from Lake Victoria.
Sserunjogi says the centre will soon start processing chicken and pork sausages. He says they set up a bazaar to sell organically-grown matooke, meat, pork, cassava and tomatoes.
“The new system will reach out to our customers in hotels, stores, institutions and homes.â€
Harambe has five permanent and 18 casual workers.
If you know of anyone who has made money through an enterprising venture, nominate them for recognition.
Write to features@newvision.co.ug, or send a fax to 0414232050