The loan that made me a thriving farmer

Namubiru checks one of her bananas before harvesting. Photo by Edgar R Batte

What you need to know:

It all started when Mable Namubiru, an environmental assessment officer at National Environment Management Authority (Nema), saw an advert in a newspaper inviting people to apply for salary loans from a financial institution. She tried her luck, writes EDGAR R. BATTE

When Mable Namubiru took out a bank loan of Shs25m, part of her plan was to go into agriculture.
She wanted to supplement her income in the formal job as an environmental assessment officer at National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

Starting
With the money, she bought six acres of land in Kapeeka, Semuto, in Luwero District, located about 70 kilometres from Kampala.
She planted eucalyptus trees on two and a half acres and a banana plantation on the same land size.
She set up a poultry project and planted vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, green pepper and eggplants on the remaining acre of land.

Namubiru has been a farmer for two years and like many corporate employees, she has learnt the hard way.
When she started out, she recounts managing her farm projects via the phone.
This had its hard lessons, for example employees would call her and peddle lies of sick chicks just to get money from her. She would send mobile money.

She started with 1,000 chicken which she acquired at Shs2,150,000. Each chick cost her Shs3,000. They were layers. Her motivation to go into farming stems from her family.
Her mother who is an avid farmer introduced her to agriculture at an early age when she would call on her daughter to accompany her when she was going to her farm to oversee her piggery projects.
“When I was older, I sought for knowledge through making trips to respected farmers. One of the farming projects that inspired me was Ugachick,” Namubiru recollects.

Consults Biyinzika
She also visited Biyinzika Poultry dealers. She got good ideas and felt encouraged to also start. She went into poultry farming in November 2016. The motivation did not prepare her for journey in its wholesomeness.
She realised that she needed to vaccinate the birds and she needed to feed the birds on a daily.
“I had to spend Shs700,000 on feeding the birds every day that passed. The vaccination cost me between Shs150,000 and Shs250,000. All these were necessities. I guess I had not prepared myself in terms of researching more deeply about poultry farming but when I got in, I was not going to get out.”
Each challenge presented a lesson for the budding farmer. She employed two people.
Besides salary, she provides food and shelter for the workers.
Many of the chicken were reported to have died due to sickness though Namubiru later discovered that the workers would sell the chicken and report them dead.

Advice
The journey for Namubiru is one of mixed reactions; happiness and challenges. “If you are to go into farming, prepare well. Have the money but also make a lot of research on what you would like to venture into. I was excited and I made a number of mistakes which I am glad to have learnt from,” she explains.
She adds, “You might delegate someone to manage your projects but they might not be as good as yourself being there. Today, I am on ground. If one of my employees or helpers calls me to tell me a pig is sick, I drive to the farm to ascertain. Many times, I have been lied to and discover that these employees would like to fleece me of my money. You need to be as involved as possible,” she says.

Tips
Namubiru also tips upcoming farmers or those planning to start farming to be prepared mentally for the agricultural journey.
“If you decide to go into farming, do not go in half-half but wholly. That is how you will realise some good returns. What you sow is what you reap, many times,” she further explains.

Profits
“When the chicken started laying eggs, I would make between Shs800,000 and Shs850,000 in a week. I would re-invest Shs400,000 and save the rest. In November last year, I decided to let go of the poultry project. I had about 900 birds and sold each at Shs20,000 and focussed on starting a tree project,” she says. This earned her Shs18m.
Tree project
With the profits from poultry, Namubiru decided to invest into trees. She bought seedlings, each at Shs500. She purchased 800 seedlings, which amounted to Shs400,000.

Piggery
She also focused her energies into setting up a piggery project. She bought each pig at Shs200,000. “I had done some research on piggery farming through asking friends and they encouraged me, arguing that it required less attention compared to chicken. Luckily, in the neighbourhood were large-scale piggery farmers who offered to help me since I was starting out. All I do is provide them with feeds and medication and they volunteer the upkeep. However, I give them some money as appreciation for their kindness,” Namubiru explains.

She bought five pigs, all sows. She spent Shs100,000. They are all expecting and she is looking at each giving birth to 12 piglets, which will expand her piggery project. She plans to sell some of them, expecting to earn Shs100,000 per piglet.
Reaps big
The farmer has recently started feeding off her vegetable garden too. She harvested one and a half sacks of green pepper, which earned her Shs120,000. Her matooke bunches are ready and each fetches Shs10,000. With 50 bunches harvested so far, she has earned Shs500,000.
“The tree project is amazing. The trees are growing fast and though still young, potential buyers have started surveying the trees. However I would like them to give them the necessary time to full mature. I expect to sell at a higher price since they are a crossbreed between a South African and local type,” she adds.