Four acre model farms come to Mukono

President Yoweri Museveni has started two demonstration farms dubbed ‘Four Acre Model Concept' in Mukono district to teach people modern farming methods and rid people of household poverty leading to profit-oriented agriculture even on small pieces of land.

Ronald Kibuule the state minister for water resources who is also Mukono North MP made the revelation to farmers in Mukono district.

"To support the project, President Yoweri Museveni has invested sh60m to fight household poverty." 

The project is being implemented under Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), a government programme aimed at improving Ugandans' livelihoods through farming.

Under the project, each acre of land is dedicated to a particular high-value crop with multiple agricultural activities including zero grazing, a fruit farm with mangos, pineapples, passion fruits and pawpaws among others. 

"The demonstration farm acts as an agricultural learning centre to eradicate household poverty through modern agriculture to yield desired results," Kibuule said.

According to Museveni, using the model will enlighten farmers countrywide to boost their economic livelihoods through farming. 

Kibuule who launched the two demonstration farms in the villages of Lwanyonyi and Nabitimpa in Nama sub-county on Saturday, re-echoed Museveni's previous statements saying this initiative was needed to tackle household poverty.

"Over 20 villages in Mukono shall benefit from this project through agro-training and value addition, processing and marketing among others," Kibuule said. 

"Part of this money will go towards procuring Friesian cows each capable of producing over 20 litres of milk daily and buying veterinary drugs. The money will be used for procuring farming inputs including tomato, coffee, mango, passion fruits seedlings, pineapples and banana suckers from nursery bed operators and fertilizers to improve the soil fertility. These will be disbursed through operation wealth creation OWC," explained Kibuule.

"Many farmers grow tomatoes so their dream may be realised when they develop a niche in the processing and packaging of tomato sauce in sachets and bottles for local consumption and export. Markets can be achieved with help from government.

"When farmers grow tomatoes that satisfy the demand, I will convince President Museveni to set up a tomato processing plant in Mukono and this will give employment opportunities," Kibuule said.

Under the project, one acre is used for dairy production on which, pasture (elephant grass) can be grown and one dairy cow kept.

On average, a Friesian cow produces 20 litres of milk daily. If five litres are consumed by the family and fifteen litres sold at sh1,200 per litre, the farmer fetches sh2m annually.

Kibuule said one acre is used for growing of food crops such as maize, beans, groundnuts, cassava and others. On this acre, the farmer maximizes the benefit of intercropping to ensure maximum yields.

"Another acre is used for clonal coffee. 450 seedlings are planted at a cost of sh500 each, amounting to sh22500. When they mature, each coffee plant yields between 5-7 kilograms of coffee. If sold unprocessed, it would earn the farmer at least sh10m annually," Kibuule said.

"The success story at the farm should be an eye opener to the families to fight poverty at household level. You need to preach this message of success to your neighbours." Kibuule added.

In October 2016, Museveni started a demonstration farm in Kawumu in Luweero district to put in practice as the four acre model which has since yielded dividends.

The area which was previously devastated by drought, apparently the project is blossoming with tomatoes, pineapples and dairy products among many others.

The model farm also does fish farming, and has coffee, matooke, mushrooms and vegetables. The President is implementing the use of drip irrigation, which is a cheap and effective irrigation method that is manageable by any farmer in the country.