By Vision Reporter
Joyce Omait, a mixed-farmer from Kyenjojo, has been declared the best farmer in the North-East region. Omait was awarded this afternoon during the the Vision Group Best Farmer Awards ceremony at the company’s head offices in Kampala.
Omiat, who hails from Akimeng village, Kamutur sub-county in Bukedea district, established Jaira Farm, an integrated enterprise, alongside John Kokas in 2020.
The 64-acre farm has various enterprises that include dairy farming with a daily production of 110-114 litres, part of which is processed into yoghurt, explains Mrs Omiat. Yoghurt production is the lead-income-yielding-enterprise, fetching sh12m a month, she says. Other enterprises are fish farming, sheep, goats and making briquettes.
At the inception of the farm, all the cows were local breeds. But now, the couple has 48 head of cattle, both local breeds and hybrids. Of these, 15 were lactating.
“Our dream was to establish a robust dairy enterprise. However, along the way, we stumbled on yet another lucrative activity (of turning the farm into a livestock breeding hub).
We’ve since revisited our original vision of making a diary farm to also include turning the entity into a cattle breeding hub,” observes Omiat.
She emerged among the winners because she adds value to her milk. “The farm is also clean and fairly equipped with the relevant machinery,” the judges ruled.
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This is the ninth year running that Vision Group, together with the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLM Airlines, dfcu Bank and Koudijs Animal Nutrition, are running the Best Farmers competition. The 2024 competition run from March to November, culminating in today’s awards ceremony.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Omiat emerged among the winners because she adds value to her milk. Photo by Moses Nsubuga
