Govt commissions liquid nitrogen plant

LIQUID| NITROGEN|PLANT 

MBARARA - The Government has installed a multi-billion liquid nitrogen plant at Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MBAZARDI).

The facility, the first of its kind in the western region, was commissioned by the state minister for animal industry, Bright Rwamirama.

This was during an event held at MBAZARDI headquarters.

Beneficiaries

Rwamirama said the facility will adequately supply nitrogen to Lyantonde, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kazo, Ibanda, Kitagwenda, Sheema, Bushenyi, Buhweju, Mitooma and Rubirizi districts.

Other districts are Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Kabale, Rukiga, Rubanda, Kisoro and others in the western zone of the Cattle Corridor.

The plant was procured at sh1.4b together with another plant installed at Njeru Stock Farm, with funding from the Government.

Production capacity 

Rwamirama said the facility will boost breeding, production and animal identification services. It is able to produce 150 litres per hour.

The facility brings the number of liquid nitrogen plants in the country to three.

"The plants have a combined capacity to produce sufficient liquid nitrogen required for breeding, production, freeze branding and other biotechnology,"Rwamirama said.

The minister said all districts have at least one set of artificial insemination (AI) equipment procured and supplied under the respective district local governments and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

He urged farmers in the area to make better use of the facility.

Rwamirama said the Government will train more artificial insemination technicians through the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), OWC and other partners. 

"The use of AI will lead to improved animals with higher capacity to produce more meat and milk per animal. This will translate into increased income for both large and small scale farmers across the country," he explained.

Other plants

Rwamirama said in the next financial year, the Government has budgeted to install two more liquid nitrogen plants in the northern Uganda and West Nile regions to improve the genetic quality of the animals and also farmers' incomes.

He said the institution also plans to sell the surplus liquid nitrogen to neighbouring countries.

"These target external markets include DR Congo, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Rwanda and Burundi. These will be a source of foreign exchange for Uganda," Rwamirama added.

NAGRC board chairperson Dr Johnson Nkuhe commended the partnership within government agricultural institutions.

Peter Baine, the executive director of NAGRC, said the facilities will help them in the overall government development programmes.

Dr Dick Kamuganda, the president of Uganda National Farmers Federation, said: "Farmers have been travelling long distances to get such services in Entebbe but now that it has been brought close to them, I invite all the farmers to make use of the facility."