By Tom Gwebayanga
Upon arriving in Nakabugu township, Bulongo sub-county in Luuka district, visitors are greeted by expansive canopies of eucalyptus, pine, umbrella and musizi trees. This lush, green “belt” on the southern side of the township is known as “Nakabugu’s Woodland.”
Beneath the canopy, a diverse mix of cocoa, jackfruit, avocado, orange and lemon trees is interspersed with an extensive coffee plantation.
At the end of a winding path, lined with Chogm flowers, stands the stylish residence of the Isota family, the proprietors of this verdant landscape.
Approximately 400 metres to the west, another forest owned by the Isota family adds vibrant greenery to the skyline and nourishes the Nakabugu wetland, which flows through neighbouring villages.
The forests are a source of community pride, supporting the local ecosystem and inducing rainfall.
“We get rain even when other areas are dry,” says Wilberforce Musolo, a farm stakeholder, noting that travellers often stop to admire the forest cover.
Established over 40 years ago by Patrick Isota and Mama Piripa Isota, the farm left a lasting legacy in agriculture and livestock before their deaths in 2004 and 2018, respectively.
The couple, both primary school teachers, supported emerging model farmers and institutions with farm inputs.
Asaba Farm System (AFS)
The “Green Belt” is part of the Asaba Farm System (AFS), overseen by the director, Apollo Gabazira, 54, who has continued his parents’ farming legacy.
The late Maama Piripa Isota named the farm “Asaba Aweebwa,” meaning “Whoever prays is given.”
Upon taking over, Gabazira rebranded the farm as the “Asaba Farm System,” reflecting his “Systems Approach” to farming, which has contributed to the farm’s success.
Fifteen years after his parents’ deaths, Gabazira, a teacher, has modernised the farm with digital technologies under the sustainable “reFarm” model, replacing outdated practices.
Cherished farming legacy
From a young age, Gabazira was immersed in farming, helping with local cows, goats and sheep, and learning various agricultural skills from his parents.
As their health declined, Gabazira gradually took over the farm, which once had over 50 Friesian-cross cows.
Inspired by his mother’s wish for him to elevate the farm, he dedicated himself to transforming it. For 15 years, Gabazira has focused on his farm, which is now praised by Dr Aggrey Basena, as one of the most organised and professionally managed in the Luuka and Busoga regions.
With 15 acres of eucalyptus and pine, AFS has become a hub for agro-livestock tourism and production. It boasts over 30 pedigree Ayrshire cows, heifers and calves, listed in the Kenya KLBO studbook.
It produces over 120 litres of milk per day. AFS Probiotic Yogurt is a popular brand in Busoga and the farm also grows maize, sunflowers and bananas, while maintaining fodder grasses. Its solar-powered irrigation system, silos and the Asaba Skilling Centre (ASC) further support its success.
Farm concept
Gabazira aimed to redefine small and medium-scale farming in Uganda by establishing four core pillars: Asaba Dairy (AD), Asaba Agro (AA), Asaba Community Extension Services (ACES) and Asaba Skilling (AS).
The Asaba Farm System (AFS) embraces the “re-Farm” tagline, emphasising regenerative and climate-smart practices.
Getting started
Gabazira’s farming journey began in childhood. He transitioned from cross-breed to pure Ayrshire cows, transforming AFS into a leading Ayrshire breeding hub in Busoga.
With a goal of reaching 60 Ayrshire cows, AFS has become a sought-after destination for aspiring farmers seeking training.
Why Ayrshire?
Gabazira selected Ayrshire cows for their resilience and high-quality milk production. Imported from Kenya, Ayrshires are renowned for their robustness, with females weighing 450kg-600kg and males 600kg-800kg.
They produce 10-20 litres of milk daily, with a lactation period lasting 305 days.
Ayrshires are economically advantageous, due to their efficient forage conversion, longevity and ability to thrive in Africa’s climatic extremes.
In addition to breeding, the farm offers artificial insemination (AI) services and aims to supply Ayrshire bulls across Luuka’s eight sub-counties, enhancing local dairy farming.
The agro enterprise
AFS’s agro enterprises include 15 acres of maize, primarily for farm use, with any surplus sold.
Ruth Amongin, the farm manager, highlighted that sunflower seeds are also grown and processed into animal feed concentrates.
On a separate one-acre plot, the farm cultivates vegetables, such as nakati, pumpkins, dodo, spinach, onions and beans, which are sold in Luuka-Kiyunga town and other local centres.
Additionally, AFS features a demonstration banana plantation used for training students and farmers, and propagates banana suckers for the community and agro-organisations.
Amongin explained that some of the maize is harvested and chopped to produce livestock silage.
The farm also grows various fodder crops, including Brachiaria Mulato 2 (Ekiryama), lablab, desmodium, Pakchong Napier, potato vines, sunflower and alfalfa.
The remaining maize is stored in two galvanised steel solar-powered silos, which use modern technology to keep the grain free of weevils for over a year.
Some of the maize is processed on-site to produce bran and refined flour, which are used to feed heifers, support workers and for sale.
Community extension services
AFS provides vital community extension services that farmers would otherwise have to seek from distant sources.
These services include outreach meetings aimed at educating people about disease outbreaks, control measures, and dairy farming strategies.
For example, AFS supplies each of the eight sub-counties with one pure Ayrshire bull, managed by a progressive farmer or group.
This service operates as a business, with fees set at sh20,000 for mating, sh40,000 for artificial insemination, and sh140,000 for sexed semen.
Amongin says this approach fosters partnerships among the farm, the community and sector stakeholders, including the agriculture ministry.
Agro-forestry
The agroforestry enterprise spans 15 acres and includes eucalyptus, pine, musizi and umbrella trees. The forests are well-maintained, with minimal weed growth due to planted fodder grasses.
Gabazira explains that thinning the trees to encourage higher growth generates early revenue from the sale of logs and wood to the community.
Channels have been constructed to facilitate water flow from the Chiko swamp through Nakabugu township to neighbouring villages, ensuring sustainable land management.
Technologies
AFS utilises a 20,000-litre overhead irrigation tank to support off-season maize, sunflower crops, vegetables, and the banana plantation.
This system has increased crop yields by 50% over the past three years, helping to mitigate the impact of droughts.
It also provides water for heifers and poultry. Solar power is used for heating, lighting and refrigeration, while electricity powers only the feed mixer and maize mill.
Lillian Gabazira, the director’s wife, highlights that the farm provides employment for many casual workers and supports the economic base of Luuka district, even in the absence of full-time positions.
Access to finance, knowledge
AFS secures loans from the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF), which have provided sh102m and sh85m, respectively, for acquiring a multi-purpose tractor.
Gabazira sources knowledge from Vision Group’s farming platforms, including Harvest Money, Bukedde TV and the annual Farmers Expo.
He is also an active blogger on the ‘Effectiveness Lab,’ where he writes about farming in Uganda.
Mechanization
The multi-purpose tractor at AFS performs over five tasks, including ploughing, disk harrowing, seed planting, fodder chopping and maize shelling.
This mechanisation reduces the need for manual labor and simplifies the supervision of community labor.
Yogurt, milk bar
In Nakabugu trading center, AFS operates a milk bar, where customers can purchase yogurt and fresh milk.
The farm also provides a one-stop centre for quality veterinary services and agro-inputs.
The AFS Farmers Point outlet serves as an advisory centre for climate-smart farming practices, modeled on the actual practices implemented at AFS.
Social impact
AFS positively impacts communities through its skilling centre, philanthropic efforts, extension services and forests that contribute to the local ecosystem.
It supports the education ministry in implementing its competency-based curriculum.
Challenges
Climate variability and the high cost of establishing a viable regenerative and climate-smart farm ecosystem are significant challenges.
The other is expensive funding options with high-interest rates have slowed progress towards completing AFS’s reFarm model and achieving its vision for Luuka, Busoga and Uganda.
Plans
To promote smart dairy farming in Luuka district and ensure sufficient milk for the newly acquired cooler, AFS plans to set up at least two bull hubs per parish.
This will involve rotating pure Ayrshire bulls to prevent inbreeding.
AFS also aims to expand its AFS Farmers Point green-advisory outlets to support sustainable agribusiness in Luuka.
Investments in Asaba Skilling and Asaba Community Extension Services are key priorities for the next three years of the business plan.
Innovations
AFS employs several innovative practices to enhance sustainability and productivity. Cow dung is recycled into compost for vegetable and banana gardens. Chicken droppings are fermented to produce high-protein larvae for livestock feed.
Additionally, cow dung is used to generate biogas and slurry, which serves as organic manure for cereals, vegetables and bananas.
Accumulated dung is sold to model and aspiring farmers as manure at sh60,000 per truck.
Skilling centre
AFS is registered with the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and is authorised to offer training and award certificates to participants, including students, model farmers and progressive farmers.
The AFS DIT Certificate number is UG 92580A. The training centre is well-equipped with lecture shelters, literature and learning aids.
Participants also benefit from guided tours around the farm, where they can observe innovations and technologies in action.
Piripa Talikwana, 19, the director’s daughter, emphasises that the goal of the training is to develop both current and future generations of farmers.
Her business management project from the International School of Uganda (ISU) was conducted at Asaba Farm System and her review is available on Google under the AFS location.
The most recent training session hosted 300 students from Iganga Secondary School.
Known as Asaba Skilling, the training model represents the farm’s fourth pillar. It aims to empower communities with knowledge, encouraging them to view farming as a viable business.
