By Stephen Nuwagira
Dairy farmers should embrace modern practices if they are to enhance productivity of their enterprises, making them more profitable and sustainable.
New age dairy production methods like feed conservation and growing of pasture and fodder crops are a must to push dairy farming to the next level, Simon Muyambi, an expert from AGDI Dairy Farm in Kiruhura, told farmers in Ibanda.
“For the farmer of the future, it is important to adopt skills that will help you to improve production and productivity of the dairy enterprise. Practices like the growing pasture and fodder crops and conserving them ensure sustainable supply of feeds at the farm and, hence, increase in milk output and earnings,” said Muyambi.
This was during the training sought to skill selected farmers and agriculture students from Ibanda University in feed conservation to help improve dairy production in the area. The trainees acquired skills in pasture establishment and management, silage and hay making and packaging, as well as making of concentrates, and recordkeeping basics.
Simon Muhumuza, a lecturer from the Faculty of Applied Agriculture at Ibanda University, challenged the students to use the skills to cause the desire mindset change in dairy production. Use these skills to also improve yourselves by creating your own jobs to provide much needed services to the dairy farmers, he added.
The training was organised by Ibanda University and Ibanda District Farmers Association and facilitated by Col (rtd) Dick Bugingo’s AGDI Dairy Farm, with support from SNV under the inclusive dairy enterprise (TIDE) project.
Charles Kamwine, the host farmer in Bukuto, Nsasi Ward in Bisheshe Division, such training presents farmers an opportunity to learn new methods of farming besides helping to sharpen their skills. “It also helps them to get confident with what they are doing since many of them lack necessary skills to manage their agribusinesses effectively,” he said.
Challenges abound
However, Kamwine noted that farmers in Ibanda still lacked access to feed and planting materials for pastures and fodder crops. Besides, the costs involved are also high for the ordinary farmers. This is more so when it comes to the establishment of zero grazing units and paying for the services of artificial insemination technicians, he added.
The lack of adequate land to grow pastures and fodder crops was also highlighted as a big challenge to the dairy farming sector.
Trainees speak out
Agatha Nuwaha, one of the students that participated in the one day training, said she would put the skills gained to offer more services to farmers. The hand-on skills have enabled us to put into practice the theory we studied in class, she added. Samuel Luwano, another student, was impressed with “innovative livestock production” methods that farmers can use to realise their goals. I will use these skills for self-employment, he added.
