Seeds of Gold farm clinic inspired him to establish goat farm and study tours
Top, Ssembeguya making a presentation at the Seeds of Gold farm clinic in June.
What you need to know:
The farm clinic which was held in June this year focused on care and management of goats and their market.
Nooh Mayambala is a goat farmer based in Zzana, about 10km from Kampala on Entebbe Road. He participated in the Seeds of Gold farm clinic in June this year, which was organised by Daily Monitor and hosted by Katende Harambe Rural Urban Training Centre in Namugongo, Kiira Town Council, Wakiso District.
He feels it was the best thing that happened to him since, and such was inspired to also organise three study vists/workshops to pass on the skills to other farmers and those interested in keeping goats on a commercial scale.
Learning
Mayambala commends the farm clinic for having changed his life. “Before attending the farm clinic, I had about 10 local and exotic breed in my farm but I did not know how I could improve on the quality of my goats,” he says.
But afterwards, with the knowledge he acquired, he was motivated to grow bigger and faster after realising that he could earn more from the goats he was keeping on his piece of land. It also made him understand that there is ready market for goat products.
Mayambala adds he was particularly inspired a presentation by Paul Ssembeguya, one of the biggest goat breeders in Uganda. It made him understand that through cross-breeding, an exotic breed like the Savannah with the indigenous breeds, he could get goats which can grow faster.
Getting better
“After the clinic, I linked up with Ssembeguya who has advised me on how to build good shelters, how to feed goats and general care and management,” he explains. “My goats are now looking healthier and growing faster,” Mayambala notes, pointing out that he has more than 39 goats which include both cross and exotic breeds. Among these, he has two dairy breeds, Saanen and Totenberg, that produce milk daily. Each litre goes for Shs4,000.
Following the improvement of his farming business, he has received many requests from other people to organise a workshop to teach them about keeping goats for commercial purposes.
Because of these requests, Mayambala has organised three consecutive workshops over three weekend. He has partnered with Ssembeguya, representatives from MTK that produces of animal drugs as well as veterinary doctors like James Muwanga and Hamiisi Semanda.
Other presenters include Tony Kasuule to teach participants about dairy goats and their profitability.
The workshops will run in three intervals starting with this Saturday October 26 at Mayambala’s farm in Zzana.
The workshop is expected to start at 8am. Whoever is interested to attend the second and third workshops can register at Security Link Ltd offices on Sentema road in Muyenga.
