What farmers say
Dec 13, 2010
<b>Govt, provide farmers with information</b><br>Editor — I am a farmer with a passion for poultry farming. But one of my biggest challenges with the poultry industry is either lack of or scattered information on the market of poultry products in Uganda that farmers can base their decisions on.
Govt, provide farmers with information
Editor — I am a farmer with a passion for poultry farming. But one of my biggest challenges with the poultry industry is either lack of or scattered information on the market of poultry products in Uganda that farmers can base their decisions on.
Of recent I tried to understand poultry market in Uganda. I have looked for this information from many of my fellow farmers and sources I thought could have the information, but to my surprise, every farmer you meet and the institutions you would expect to have this information will tell you one thing: “The market for poultry is big, you cannot satisfy it.†True, I agree the market for poultry products could be big and we probably may not be able to satisfy it, but the question is: “How big is big?â€
If I want to expand or invest in poultry, I should work with figures and not assumptions. If, for example, I want to invest in say egg production, how many trays of eggs are consumed in say Kampala alone annually? How many do the supper markets take? How many do the retail shops take? Who are the main consumers? Which is the season when eggs tend to run out of the market?
And if I may ask a few simple questions, in Uganda, where can a farmer find this sort of information? Who is responsible for gathering such information? Without this kind of simple information, a farmer will easily make losses.
I even went to the internet and found Poultry and Livestock market in Uganda: Business Report 2010, published in August by Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd. When I asked the relevant institutions if they were aware of this report, they seemed not to be aware of it.
I think every crop or livestock enterprise should have this information if investments in farming are to be realised. Can the responsible ministry begin to do what helps the farmers make informed decisions?
Mephy Wegulo, farmer
I want to rear guinea fowls
Editor — My cousin picked interest in the profitable trade of guinea fowls because they have tasty meat, are easy to manage and resistant to disease. He selected it as an enterprise to begin with in order to generate pocket money. Could you avail us with Hawa Mugisha’s contact or direct us to any place where guinea fowl keeping is a commercial enterprise.
Ahmed Musamali
Editor’s note. The contact number for guinea fowl farmer Hawa Mugisha is; 0752946915. Other places where you can buy guinea fowls include Nakasero market within Kampala. A number of poultry farmers are taking up guinea fowls as the demand for their meat is high and still growing. However you need to be warned that Guinea fowls make a lot of noise, which might not please your neighbours, especially if you are living in an urban area.
I need to know about macadamia
Editor – Thank you for the rich information Harvesting Money. I would like you to connect me to a person or association that deals in macadamia seedlings and also provide me with any relevant information.
Masaba Roger
Tel: 0772 504 674
Editor’s note: Next week Harvest Money will bring you anexpert on Macadamia.
How do I plant garlic, ginger?
Editor – I have five acres of land and I want to start growing garlic and ginger. Can you let me know when I can begin growing them and where can I get the seeds. How do I plant them?
Osolika Stella
Email:osolikastella@kakirasugar.com
Editor’s note
Garlic and Ginger require different conditions to grow. You can get planting material from traders in Owino and other markets. Start by just a few cloves/cuttings to test the soils.
Is orange farming viable in Mpigi?
Editor – Thank you for the great work.
I work for Twezimbe Development Foundation, a community-based organisation that seeks to improve the people’s well being especially farmers in Mpigi district. We would like to provide farmers with orange seeds but are not sure whether orange farming would thrive in Mpigi. Besides, are their prices favourable? What are the other uses of oranges?
Could you also run a profile of an orange farmer from whom we can borrow a leaf? Thank you.
Sandra Kyarikunda
Twezimbe Development Foundation
Editor’s note.
You have two options. One is to seek advice from an agriculture extension worker in the area where you want to grow oranges. The other is to first plant a few trees and see how they perform.
Editor — I am a farmer with a passion for poultry farming. But one of my biggest challenges with the poultry industry is either lack of or scattered information on the market of poultry products in Uganda that farmers can base their decisions on.
Of recent I tried to understand poultry market in Uganda. I have looked for this information from many of my fellow farmers and sources I thought could have the information, but to my surprise, every farmer you meet and the institutions you would expect to have this information will tell you one thing: “The market for poultry is big, you cannot satisfy it.†True, I agree the market for poultry products could be big and we probably may not be able to satisfy it, but the question is: “How big is big?â€
If I want to expand or invest in poultry, I should work with figures and not assumptions. If, for example, I want to invest in say egg production, how many trays of eggs are consumed in say Kampala alone annually? How many do the supper markets take? How many do the retail shops take? Who are the main consumers? Which is the season when eggs tend to run out of the market?
And if I may ask a few simple questions, in Uganda, where can a farmer find this sort of information? Who is responsible for gathering such information? Without this kind of simple information, a farmer will easily make losses.
I even went to the internet and found Poultry and Livestock market in Uganda: Business Report 2010, published in August by Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd. When I asked the relevant institutions if they were aware of this report, they seemed not to be aware of it.
I think every crop or livestock enterprise should have this information if investments in farming are to be realised. Can the responsible ministry begin to do what helps the farmers make informed decisions?
Mephy Wegulo, farmer
I want to rear guinea fowls
Editor — My cousin picked interest in the profitable trade of guinea fowls because they have tasty meat, are easy to manage and resistant to disease. He selected it as an enterprise to begin with in order to generate pocket money. Could you avail us with Hawa Mugisha’s contact or direct us to any place where guinea fowl keeping is a commercial enterprise.
Ahmed Musamali
Editor’s note. The contact number for guinea fowl farmer Hawa Mugisha is; 0752946915. Other places where you can buy guinea fowls include Nakasero market within Kampala. A number of poultry farmers are taking up guinea fowls as the demand for their meat is high and still growing. However you need to be warned that Guinea fowls make a lot of noise, which might not please your neighbours, especially if you are living in an urban area.
I need to know about macadamia
Editor – Thank you for the rich information Harvesting Money. I would like you to connect me to a person or association that deals in macadamia seedlings and also provide me with any relevant information.
Masaba Roger
Tel: 0772 504 674
Editor’s note: Next week Harvest Money will bring you anexpert on Macadamia.
How do I plant garlic, ginger?
Editor – I have five acres of land and I want to start growing garlic and ginger. Can you let me know when I can begin growing them and where can I get the seeds. How do I plant them?
Osolika Stella
Email:osolikastella@kakirasugar.com
Editor’s note
Garlic and Ginger require different conditions to grow. You can get planting material from traders in Owino and other markets. Start by just a few cloves/cuttings to test the soils.
Is orange farming viable in Mpigi?
Editor – Thank you for the great work.
I work for Twezimbe Development Foundation, a community-based organisation that seeks to improve the people’s well being especially farmers in Mpigi district. We would like to provide farmers with orange seeds but are not sure whether orange farming would thrive in Mpigi. Besides, are their prices favourable? What are the other uses of oranges?
Could you also run a profile of an orange farmer from whom we can borrow a leaf? Thank you.
Sandra Kyarikunda
Twezimbe Development Foundation
Editor’s note.
You have two options. One is to seek advice from an agriculture extension worker in the area where you want to grow oranges. The other is to first plant a few trees and see how they perform.