‘You don’t need a lot of money to prosper’
Feb 02, 2009
Ssebata Musisi’s house is the only storeyed structure in Kyoko village, Kingo sub-county, Masaka. Musisi is considered a model farmer because he has prospered.
Every weekday, 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 Joshua Kato
Ssebata Musisi’s house is the only storeyed structure in Kyoko village, Kingo sub-county, Masaka. Musisi is considered a model farmer because he has prospered.
He has about 120 acres; 15 comprising coffee shambas, one is occupied by fish ponds, while the rest is grazing land for about 30 mixed-breed cattle. Coffee is his main cash crop because Masaka is zoned as a coffee-producing area.
He walks with contentment as he supervises his workers. “To be a good farmer, you must first like farming,†he says.
Musisi planted fruits around his compound. In one corner there is a short mango tree with huge purple mangoes. Ssebata points: “This is a rare breed of mangoes.â€
He planted guavas, avocado and grapes. “I wish we had at least 10 plants of grapes in this village — we would be making fine wine,†he says.
Ssebata fell in love with agriculture 13 years ago, but he did not have capital. “I was working in the airlines industry in 1993 when I started saving for commercial agriculture. This was in preparation for retirement,†he says. “Sometimes I saved money to buy only three coffee seedlings.â€
In 1997, Musisi retired and went into agriculture. He left Kampala and settled in Kyoko. “When I planted coffee, people said I would not prosper because the coffee prices had fallen drastically,†he says. But he persisted. Today, his coffee shamba is priceless.
He set up water tunnels in the shamba to drain rain water. Musisi also planted mituba trees to create a shade for the coffee plants. The trees grow faster than coffee.
“Coffee trees blossom under shades. In fact, the quality of coffee that grows under shades is far better than that of coffee which grows under direct sunshine,†he says. By 2000, he had started harvesting coffee. “I harvest at least 100 bags of coffee every season,†he says. Currently, a kilogramme of coffee costs sh1,000 in Masaka.
Musisi is also a popular coffee seedlings producer. He has two nursery beds. The process of producing quality seedlings is tedious. “Seedlings are supposed to spend at least six months in the nursery bed,†he explains.
But Musisi says there is ready market for the seedlings. Each goes for between sh600 and sh800. In a year, he sells about 3,000 seedlings, earning about sh20m.
Musisi has over 30 cattle. “I will use the Boran breed to improve the quality of my cattle,†he says. Musisi advises dairy farmers to put less emphasis on pure breeds, saying mixed breeds are more profitable. The mixed breed also has the ability to resist diseases.
An adult fresian costs around sh1.5m, while a mixed-breed costs around sh1m. Few of his cows produce milk, but Musisi says in a few months, most cows will have matured, so he will be able to make more money from milk.
Musisi says many Ugandans can engage in agriculture if they plan and utilise their land. “Ugandans should realise that land is capital. You do not need millions of shillings to become a commercial farmer,†he advises. Musisi began with little capital, but his farm is now worth about sh500m.
Given the unpredictable climate, Musisi has started irrigating his land. He constructed water tanks with a capacity of 90,000 litres. During the dry season, water from the tanks is used to irrigate the coffee.
But all has not been smooth. The coffee wilt disease threatened to destroy his shamba a few years into coffee growing.
“I had to identify the affected crops and remove them,†he says.
If one was to measure the amount of success Musisi has achieved, his sitting room is the place to visit. Photos of his children donned in graduation gowns line the walls. “That one is a doctor,†he says, pointing at a photo of one of his sons.
All his children have been successfully educated. One of his daughters works in the airlines industry and another with Hima Cement. Three children are pursuing their masters in the US.
“I would have had more cows, but I sold some of them to raise fees for my children,†he says.
There are more signs of a good life in his sitting room; bottles of expensive wine, cakes from a recent wedding of one of his sons and two televisions sets.
Musisi says he has no regrets having turned to the hoe because he has managed to install a solar power system at his home.
-------------
FACT FILE
-------------
Name: Ssebata Musisi
Location of farm: Kyoko Village in Kingo sub-county, Masaka district
Distance from Kampala: 180km
Enterprises: Coffee and cattle keeping
How he started: He used savings from his salary
Whom he sold his first produce to: Coffee buyers in the area. He now sells to many customers, including government-funded programmes like the National Agricultural Advisory Services and individual farmers.
Harvest: 100 bags of coffee of 60kgs each or six tonnes
How he made it: His love for farming came first.
--------------------------------------
TIPS ON COFFEE GROWING
--------------------------------------
The central region and some parts of Busoga have been earmarked under the agricultural zoning policy to promote coffee growing in the country. The areas include Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, Mpigi, Masaka, Jinja, Mayuge and Bugiri districts as well as southern Busia.
Uganda receives rainfall ranging between 1,500 and 2,300mm per year. Arabica and Robusta coffee are the mostly-grown types.
Robusta is grown in the low altitude areas (up to 1,200 metres above sea level) of central, eastern, western and south-eastern Uganda.
Arabica is grown in the highland areas (1,500-2,300m above sea level), on the slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda and on Mt. Muhabura in the south-west
Unlike Robusta, whose native habitat is the Lake Victoria Crescent, Arabica originated from Ethiopia. Arabica coffee is more competitive on the international market because of its superior quality.
Uganda Robusta also attracts a premium on the international coffee market. The new Arabica variety, Tuzza (commonly referred to as catimors), also does well in low altitude areas, predominantly zoned for Robusta coffee.
Coffee farming systems
Uganda’s average farm holding size ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 hectares. Coffee is mostly grown alongside other food crops such as bananas and beans for food security. Coffee is also grown among shade trees for sustainable coffee production, with minimal use of agro-chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides). Coffee farmers in Uganda use the low input system and households mainly rely on family labour.
Coffee seed nursery management Seed Preparation
- You can get seeds from the Coffee Research Institute, Kituza, Uganda Coffee Development Authority Headquarters, district coffee coordinators or district agricultural offfices.
- This seeds should not be kept for a long time in the house because coffee loses viability quickly.
- Prepare the seeds by removing the parchment from each individual seed.
- In some cases, if the nursery bed is prepared, it is advisable to soak the seeds overnight prior to sowing.
Site Selection
-Select a fertile place.
-Ensure it is near a permanent source of water.
-The site should be in easy reach for supervision, transportation and security against straying animals.
Making the bed
-The dimensions of a single bed are 1.2 metres wide and 10 metres long.
-The height depth of the bed should be 60cm.
-Treat the seed bed with pesticides such as Furadan or Marshal before sowing.
Sowing
-Sow in a nursery bed in rows at a spacing of 5cm between rows and 5cm between plants.
-Cover with a thin layer of about 1cm of soil.
-Place a thin layer of dry grass mulch to keep the soil moist.
Watering
- Use a watering can on alternate days for the first two weeks and then reduce to once or twice a week.
-The seedlings should emerge 6 — 8 weeks later. They go come out of the polythene bag with a pair of true leaves.
- Too much water causes logging and the seedlings rot at the collar-base. It is recommended that for every 2kgs of seed sown, use five litres of water in the dry season or two litres during rainy days per week.
Required inputs and labour:
- Clearing the land
- Land preparation
- Planting
- Prunning/thinning
- Applying fertilisers
- Pesticide application (spraying)
- Apply manure
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Post-harvest operations
- Fertilisers
- Pesticides
- Manure
- Transportation
- Cost of establishment
- Depreciation of equipment
- Material inputs
Compiled by Kikonyogo Ngatya
By Joshua Kato
Ssebata Musisi’s house is the only storeyed structure in Kyoko village, Kingo sub-county, Masaka. Musisi is considered a model farmer because he has prospered.
He has about 120 acres; 15 comprising coffee shambas, one is occupied by fish ponds, while the rest is grazing land for about 30 mixed-breed cattle. Coffee is his main cash crop because Masaka is zoned as a coffee-producing area.
He walks with contentment as he supervises his workers. “To be a good farmer, you must first like farming,†he says.
Musisi planted fruits around his compound. In one corner there is a short mango tree with huge purple mangoes. Ssebata points: “This is a rare breed of mangoes.â€
He planted guavas, avocado and grapes. “I wish we had at least 10 plants of grapes in this village — we would be making fine wine,†he says.
Ssebata fell in love with agriculture 13 years ago, but he did not have capital. “I was working in the airlines industry in 1993 when I started saving for commercial agriculture. This was in preparation for retirement,†he says. “Sometimes I saved money to buy only three coffee seedlings.â€
In 1997, Musisi retired and went into agriculture. He left Kampala and settled in Kyoko. “When I planted coffee, people said I would not prosper because the coffee prices had fallen drastically,†he says. But he persisted. Today, his coffee shamba is priceless.
He set up water tunnels in the shamba to drain rain water. Musisi also planted mituba trees to create a shade for the coffee plants. The trees grow faster than coffee.
“Coffee trees blossom under shades. In fact, the quality of coffee that grows under shades is far better than that of coffee which grows under direct sunshine,†he says. By 2000, he had started harvesting coffee. “I harvest at least 100 bags of coffee every season,†he says. Currently, a kilogramme of coffee costs sh1,000 in Masaka.
Musisi is also a popular coffee seedlings producer. He has two nursery beds. The process of producing quality seedlings is tedious. “Seedlings are supposed to spend at least six months in the nursery bed,†he explains.
But Musisi says there is ready market for the seedlings. Each goes for between sh600 and sh800. In a year, he sells about 3,000 seedlings, earning about sh20m.
Musisi has over 30 cattle. “I will use the Boran breed to improve the quality of my cattle,†he says. Musisi advises dairy farmers to put less emphasis on pure breeds, saying mixed breeds are more profitable. The mixed breed also has the ability to resist diseases.
An adult fresian costs around sh1.5m, while a mixed-breed costs around sh1m. Few of his cows produce milk, but Musisi says in a few months, most cows will have matured, so he will be able to make more money from milk.
Musisi says many Ugandans can engage in agriculture if they plan and utilise their land. “Ugandans should realise that land is capital. You do not need millions of shillings to become a commercial farmer,†he advises. Musisi began with little capital, but his farm is now worth about sh500m.
Given the unpredictable climate, Musisi has started irrigating his land. He constructed water tanks with a capacity of 90,000 litres. During the dry season, water from the tanks is used to irrigate the coffee.
But all has not been smooth. The coffee wilt disease threatened to destroy his shamba a few years into coffee growing.
“I had to identify the affected crops and remove them,†he says.
If one was to measure the amount of success Musisi has achieved, his sitting room is the place to visit. Photos of his children donned in graduation gowns line the walls. “That one is a doctor,†he says, pointing at a photo of one of his sons.
All his children have been successfully educated. One of his daughters works in the airlines industry and another with Hima Cement. Three children are pursuing their masters in the US.
“I would have had more cows, but I sold some of them to raise fees for my children,†he says.
There are more signs of a good life in his sitting room; bottles of expensive wine, cakes from a recent wedding of one of his sons and two televisions sets.
Musisi says he has no regrets having turned to the hoe because he has managed to install a solar power system at his home.
-------------
FACT FILE
-------------
Name: Ssebata Musisi
Location of farm: Kyoko Village in Kingo sub-county, Masaka district
Distance from Kampala: 180km
Enterprises: Coffee and cattle keeping
How he started: He used savings from his salary
Whom he sold his first produce to: Coffee buyers in the area. He now sells to many customers, including government-funded programmes like the National Agricultural Advisory Services and individual farmers.
Harvest: 100 bags of coffee of 60kgs each or six tonnes
How he made it: His love for farming came first.
--------------------------------------
TIPS ON COFFEE GROWING
--------------------------------------
The central region and some parts of Busoga have been earmarked under the agricultural zoning policy to promote coffee growing in the country. The areas include Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, Mpigi, Masaka, Jinja, Mayuge and Bugiri districts as well as southern Busia.
Uganda receives rainfall ranging between 1,500 and 2,300mm per year. Arabica and Robusta coffee are the mostly-grown types.
Robusta is grown in the low altitude areas (up to 1,200 metres above sea level) of central, eastern, western and south-eastern Uganda.
Arabica is grown in the highland areas (1,500-2,300m above sea level), on the slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda and on Mt. Muhabura in the south-west
Unlike Robusta, whose native habitat is the Lake Victoria Crescent, Arabica originated from Ethiopia. Arabica coffee is more competitive on the international market because of its superior quality.
Uganda Robusta also attracts a premium on the international coffee market. The new Arabica variety, Tuzza (commonly referred to as catimors), also does well in low altitude areas, predominantly zoned for Robusta coffee.
Coffee farming systems
Uganda’s average farm holding size ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 hectares. Coffee is mostly grown alongside other food crops such as bananas and beans for food security. Coffee is also grown among shade trees for sustainable coffee production, with minimal use of agro-chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides). Coffee farmers in Uganda use the low input system and households mainly rely on family labour.
Coffee seed nursery management Seed Preparation
- You can get seeds from the Coffee Research Institute, Kituza, Uganda Coffee Development Authority Headquarters, district coffee coordinators or district agricultural offfices.
- This seeds should not be kept for a long time in the house because coffee loses viability quickly.
- Prepare the seeds by removing the parchment from each individual seed.
- In some cases, if the nursery bed is prepared, it is advisable to soak the seeds overnight prior to sowing.
Site Selection
-Select a fertile place.
-Ensure it is near a permanent source of water.
-The site should be in easy reach for supervision, transportation and security against straying animals.
Making the bed
-The dimensions of a single bed are 1.2 metres wide and 10 metres long.
-The height depth of the bed should be 60cm.
-Treat the seed bed with pesticides such as Furadan or Marshal before sowing.
Sowing
-Sow in a nursery bed in rows at a spacing of 5cm between rows and 5cm between plants.
-Cover with a thin layer of about 1cm of soil.
-Place a thin layer of dry grass mulch to keep the soil moist.
Watering
- Use a watering can on alternate days for the first two weeks and then reduce to once or twice a week.
-The seedlings should emerge 6 — 8 weeks later. They go come out of the polythene bag with a pair of true leaves.
- Too much water causes logging and the seedlings rot at the collar-base. It is recommended that for every 2kgs of seed sown, use five litres of water in the dry season or two litres during rainy days per week.
Required inputs and labour:
- Clearing the land
- Land preparation
- Planting
- Prunning/thinning
- Applying fertilisers
- Pesticide application (spraying)
- Apply manure
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Post-harvest operations
- Fertilisers
- Pesticides
- Manure
- Transportation
- Cost of establishment
- Depreciation of equipment
- Material inputs
Compiled by Kikonyogo Ngatya