MbZARDI will showcase the modern dairy technologies

First, Halid Kirunda acknowledges that the first Farm Clinic a year ago opened their eyes to include a lot of improvements this coming edition.

“It was not so extensive like we plan for the coming edition. If need be, we want to have the theory session for one day and then a purely practical session the next day,” Kirunda told Seeds of Gold.
He says they have cattle breed varieties from America that will be used in enlightening farmers about the trending dairy production in consideration of climate change.

“We want to put emphasis on teaching the pasture varieties because they are imperative in milk production. We are going to look at Naro Napier 1, 2 and 3 as well as revisit the proper breeding patterns in cattle,” Kirunda emphasised.

“In modern times, farmers should be conversant with synchronised breeding techniques and using mixed semen to determine animal sex. We have all the cattle breeds and we believe by the time a participant leaves Mbarara, he will have learnt everything he needs about dairy,” he stressed.
Kirunda says they are going to elaborate on the best hygiene practices in dairy because recent research it is one of the key areas letting down Ugandan dairy farmers.

“The demand for milk is high but supply is still low because of the increased factories looking for dairy inputs. If we address the market issues and practical methodologies of proper dairy production, expect the gap to be bridged,” Kirunda said. Among other topics on dairy, MbZARDI have lined up vital notes on handling a cow that has just given birth, determining fertility of cows and illustrating the trendy cost effective means of setting up zero grazing facility.

The farms are ready
“We will be ready by May 26 when participants arrive,” Kirunda gives assurance.
“We have planted the beans for the practical event yet the cassava, pastures, passion fruits, cattle and more than 400 types of banana await the hands-on experience session,” he reveals.

Kirunda says they have paraded an assemblage of animal experts and agronomists to take farmers through agronomic practices for crops and animals, diseases, management of crops, production breeding name it.

“Farmers should come when well prepared with an area of specific interest and also add on one or two enterprises. Some trial gardens are at a distance so they should come early and move there at once,” Kirunda concluded. According to MPL marketing manager Sarah Nalule Walakira, apart from dairy, other enterprises such as banana, passion fruits, cassava, beans, mango and maize will be handled.

Mbarara District can simply pass for ‘the land of milk in Uganda’. When the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic returns to Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MbZARDI) on May 26, expect nothing less than practical lessons on proper dairy production. Denis Bbosa caught up with MbZARDI director Halid Kirunda and he opened up on what to expect.

Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic
Venue: Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research And
Development Institute (MBAZARDI), Mbarara
Date: Saturday May 26, 2018
THEME: Climate Smart Farming
ENTERPRISES: Dairy, Banana, Passion fruits, Cassava, Beans, Mango and Maize
TOPICS: Seeds & varieties, Post-harvest handling, Value addition, Sustainable Land Management (SLM) & Economics
ENTRANCE: Free