Beef farmers get Shs6.4b to revive industry
Inspection. State Minister for Animal Industry Joy Kabatsi (L) with Mr John Gichuhi, a farm manager, inspect a bull fattening shade at Orchid House Farm in Kikangula village Wabinyonyi Sub-county in Nakasongola District last Friday. PHOTO BY DAN WANDERA
NAKASONGOLA. The beef industry in Uganda has been boosted with a Shs6.4b grant from the European Union as part of a sustainability plan aimed at helping farmers organisations penetrate the beef export market.
The grant targets beef farmer associations from 17 districts under their umbrella, the Uganda Meat Producers Cooperative Union Limited (UMPCU).
The initiative is meant to improve livestock production through improved breeding systems where the farmers will access trainings, farm visits, aimed at improving pasture management, disease control and increased cattle supply to the beef market.
According to the Chief Executive Officer for the Uganda Meat Producers Cooperative Union, Dr Joshua Waiswa, Livestock rearing for the export market in Uganda has been at its lowest levels despite efforts by the government and farmer organisations to find solutions to the many challenges, including the restriction for livestock movements brought about by the persistent Foot and Mouth Disease, drought conditions and the lack of standard meat handling facilities among others challenges.
“We target having animal health, better extension services, improved financial access, having quality meat shops and quality abattoirs,’’ Dr Waiswa said at the project launch in Nakasongola District on Friday.
The European Union grant to UMPCU is part of the wider initiative by government of Uganda under the European Development Fund to develop a market oriented and environmentally sustainable beef industry in Uganda, Mr Aloys Lorkeers, the head of Section sustainable Development at the EU, said at the project launch.
“We strongly believe that a close collaboration between the public and private sectors including cooperatives like the UMPCU, is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to increase the performance of the livestock sector,” Mr Lorkeers said.
Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry Fisheries has moved a step to counter one of the biggest challenges regarding the tick’s resistance to acaricides on the Ugandan market.
‘‘Our trials for the Vector grow acaricade has yielded good results. We advise our farmers to try out the vector grow for the ticks,’’ State Minister for Animal industry, Ms Joy Kabatsi said.
Mr Daniel Ssenyimba, a famer and LCIII Chairperson for Wabinyonyi Sub-county in Nakasongola District is optimistic the project which has registered farmers from the Disease Control Districts will benefit.
