By Charles Etukuri
The Government has announced plans to revamp the 165 square mile Aswa Ranch, in a bid to revive the cattle economy in northern Uganda.
The plan was revealed by the Minister for Northern Uganda, Kenneth Omona, during the recent parliamentary sitting in Gulu city.
“Since livestock is a critical asset for the people of Uganda, the Government is set to introduce livestock breeding, fattening and amendment skilling courses in the existing industrial hubs in the four sub-regions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. This is aimed at enhancing the skills of youth in the livestock sector to support the growth of beef production in northern Uganda. The Government plans to revive Aswa Ranch in Pader and Lamwo districts, Iriri Ranch in Napak, plus similar ranches in Nakasongola, Kyankwanzi, and those in West Nile and Lango sub-regions,” the minister added.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Bardege-Layibi MP, welcomed the move, saying it would ease the restocking of northern Uganda.
The ranch, which is being managed by the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) sits on 105,400 acres in Pader and Lamwo districts. It was started in the 1960s.
In an interview with the New Vision, the executive director of NAGRC&DB, Dr Peter Beine, said the ranch will have livestock breeding infrastructure for dairy and beef cattle, as well as goats, pigs, poultry and fish among others.
“It will also have a honey processing factory for shea honey and its byproducts, since Aswa has an abundance of shea butter trees. The ranch will have learning and skilling centres for training farmers of all categories. It will also have an animal feed processing and manufacturing plant,” Beine added.
Plans in stock
He revealed that the Government intends to make Aswa ranch the spring board of development for northern Uganda.
“We want people of northern Uganda to appreciate the truth that they can only escape poverty if they embrace livestock rearing. Once they understand that, they will fully utilise their grazing lands alongside other cattle keepers,” Beine emphasised.
The ranch land is under Uganda Livestock Industries, an agency in the finance ministry that has been listed for mainstreaming into the agriculture ministry. He said they are currently cross-breeding Boran-Zebu, Brahman-Ankole, Angus-Ankole and Simmental-Ankole to get the best beef hybrids.
Beine also noted that NAGRC intends to acquire 4,500 tropicalised fast maturing grandparent pig stock, establish 30 beef cattle feed lots for accelerated breeding and multiplication, as well as establish 200 commercial breeding paddocks.
He noted that the Government intends to acquire two mobile assisted reproductive technological (ART) equipment, 150,000 tropicalised beef cattle, establish and equip a regional semen bank and establish an embryo transfer services unit for pure shorthorn Zebu breed multiplication.
The programme would also include a camel breeding programme, where 6,400 acres (10 square miles) would be reserved for it.
About 500 camel breeding stock will also be acquired, alongside five disease control units, 10 breeding paddocks, as well as specialised high-capacity camel sheds with corresponding handling facilities.
NAGRC has also reserved 300 acres for the reticulated water systems, which will provide water to livestock via a piped-water network, typically consisting of tanks, pumps, pipes and troughs.
They intend to acquire 10 sets of mobile pressurised irrigation equipment and have 50 valley tanks with comprehensive water reticulation systems, including appropriate water trough points across the farm.
On 340 acres, NAGRC will construct and equip two learning/skilling centres, four hostel blocks and 50 staff housing units.
Dairy and feeds
In the dairy sector, NAGRC intends to use 12,800 acres (20 square miles) for establishment of 10 high-capacity dairy cattle shed complexes for accelerated multiplication and availing to farmers.
Also to be set up are 50 breeding paddocks and 10 milking parlours for 5,000 appropriate dairy cattle.
The institute also plans to set up a semen bank, biosecurity gates, 20 spray races, 10 dip tanks with bomas and treatment crushes. In the animal fodder and feed production, where 36,480 acres had been reserved, NAGRC intends to acquire 30 heavy-duty (250hp) tractors with compatible primary tillage, secondary tillage, aerial pest and weed control.
It also intends to establish animal feed processing plants, 10 high-capacity grain and processed animal feed storage facilities, as well as 10 animal feed haulage trucks.
The breeding centre will acquire five sets of rangeland management machinery and 10 high-capacity hay barns
