By Herbert Musoke
The cost of livestock feed concentrates in Uganda has drastically dropped in the last two years, thanks to increased domestic production.
Until last year, most of the concentrates in Uganda were imported, which contributed to high prices.
Speaking during the launch of the Tunga outlet in Nateete, Kampala, Dr Samuel Ssewagudde, the commercial manager of Tunga Nutrition in Uganda, said since they began producing the Hendrix concentrate locally, demand has increased, necessitating greater production that can only be achieved with quality inputs like soya beans.
Tunga, a subsidiary of Trouw Nutrition from the Netherlands, is one of the sponsors of the annual Harvest Money Expo, scheduled for February next year.
Ssewagudde explained that since they started local production last year, feed prices have dropped by 15%, which increases profit margins and creates a market for local inputs like maize grain, soya bean and sunflower seeds.
“Producing the concentrate locally means there will be no more stockouts that have been affecting farm productivity, and farmers will also be assured of quality and fresh products,” he said.
Ssewagudde added that the outlet aims to bring the concentrate closer to customers while also providing services and expertise, such as feed quality checks and advice on best practices in poultry, piggery, dairy and fish farming to maximise profitability.
Rob Binnekamp, the Tunga Nutrition Africa director, thanked customers for their support and assured them that stockouts would not occur again, as production is now based in Uganda.
He encouraged farmers to utilise the outlet for the expertise and technical support available, which will help them improve farm production and profitability.
In addition to the Nateete outlet, Tunga has opened four more locations in Gayaza in Kampala, Gulu, Arua and Lira to ensure that farmers can easily access Hendrix concentrate.
Shakira Nakato, a poultry farmer from Nakawuka, Wakiso district expressed her gratitude to Tunga for opening the outlet in Nateete, adding that she had previously spent more on transportation.
“In farming, any little you can save makes a big difference.
“Since I started using Hendrix concentrate to mix my poultry feed, I have seen significant improvements in production and productivity. Therefore, having an outlet nearby will increase my farm’s profitability,” she said.
Muhammad Matovu, another poultry farmer, appreciated Tunga for providing the concentrate and making it more accessible, which will enhance productivity on their farms.
Toochukwu Chido, the general manager at Tunga Nutrition, said since local production began last year, feed prices have dropped by 15%, resulting in increased profit margins.
“Producing the concentrate locally means there will be no more stockouts affecting farm productivity. Additionally, farmers can be assured of quality and fresh products,” he said.
Tunga Nutrition is a joint venture between Unga and Nutreco, renowned feed and food milling companies.
They are also finalising a digital platform where farmers can access information.
The facility can produce 10 tonnes per day, which Chido said has significantly reduced the cost of feed.
Farmers to supply the factory
One of the major beneficiaries of the Tunga facility is cereal farmers.
“The concentrates are processed here using locally sourced raw materials, producing quality similar to what we import from the Netherlands,” Toochukwu Chido, the general manager at Tunga Nutrition, said.
Among the locally sourced raw materials will be maize and soya beans, with the facility requiring about 1,000 tonnes of raw materials monthly.
“We prefer to buy these directly from farmers’ groups rather than through middlemen. We have already contacted several farmers’ groups to supply us with soya beans and maize,” he said.
Several farmers’ groups in the central, eastern and northern regions are already supplying the facility with raw materials.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Chido (left) singing a board to mark the grand opening of Nateete Tunga outlet as others including Binnekamp (second-left) and Dr Samuel Ssewagudde (right) look on.
