Minister Hon. Lt. Col (Rtd) Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama says Government of Uganda has Made Significant Strides in Transforming Rural Livelihoods

*By John Kusolo*

The Minister of State for Animal Industry Hon. Lt. Col (Rtd) Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama says the Government of Uganda has made significant strides in transforming rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through targeted interventions in oil palm growing, dairy and livestock development, and agricultural innovation.

This was during the presentation he made on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries(MAAIF) NRM Manifesto (2021-26) Commitments so far, on 27th November 2024 at the Office of the President Auditorium. Below are key highlights:

*Oil Palm Growing and Its Impact*

Area Under Cultivation: 16,800 hectares of oil palm established in Kalangala (11,352 Ha), Buvuma (4,100 Ha), and Maruzi (1,348 Ha) under public-private-producer partnerships.

Economic Impact: Farmers earn an average of UGX 500,000 per acre monthly, with a 20-year productive cycle. The country produces 41,000 MT of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) annually.

Employment: Over 2,200 farmers in Kalangala and 791 in Buvuma are engaged, with enrollment in other regions underway. Two mills in Kalangala employ more than 2,000 workers each.

Infrastructure: Government has enhanced transportation with four ferries, including a new 604 MT ferry at Kiyindi and another connecting Bubembe and Buyama islands.

*Alternative Livelihoods:*

Supported 2,308 households with initiatives like piggery, poultry, and vegetable gardening. Formed 72 enterprise groups for financial inclusion and skills training.

*Livestock Development and Dairy Sector Growth*

**Dairy Infrastructure :*

Increased milk collection centers to 729, with a capacity of 3 million liters, reducing post-harvest losses. Six milk coolers provided to various districts.

Farm Inputs: Distributed over 942 milk cans, 28 chaff cutters, 21 milking machines, and 4,645 kg of pasture seeds. Imported 288 high-yielding dairy cows and provided 4,294 cattle breeds for multiplication.

*Income and Production:*

Milk production rose from 2.81 billion liters in FY 2020/21 to 5.4 billion liters in FY 2023/24. Exports increased from $92.4M to $257.5M within the same period.

Breeding Innovations: Trained 871 para-veterinarians and technicians, distributed 1,285 artificial insemination kits, and established advanced breeding centers with genetic improvements.

Research and Feed Production: Established feed mills and seed farms, producing silage, grains, and soybeans to enhance livestock feeding efficiency.

*Poultry and Apiary Development*

Hatcheries: Established centers in Kayunga, Kamuli, and Entebbe with capacities exceeding 13.4 million chicks annually. Supplied over 4.5 million chicks to farmers.

Poultry Breeding: Promoted dual-purpose poultry breeds in hard-to-reach areas like Karamoja and Bukedi, producing up to 200 eggs annually.

Apiary Development: Installed 400 modern beehives in Pader, with a honey processing plant under construction.

*Livestock Disease Control*

Mass Vaccinations: Delivered over 19.8M doses for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), 1M doses for Lumpy Skin Disease, and millions more for other diseases.

Facilities and Research: Constructed a regional animal disease control center in Kiruhura and set up a vaccine production facility for ticks and FMD in Wakiso, capable of producing 20M doses annually.

*Fisheries and Aquaculture*

Fish Feed Plants: Established a floating fish feed plant in Busoga and licensed De Heus Ltd for large-scale fish feed production, expected to start in 2025 with a capacity of 50,000 MT annually.

Aquaculture Parks: Supported commercial fish farming projects like Masheda Farm, which exports fish to DRC and is preparing to access EU markets.

*Agricultural Research and Innovations*

Crop and Livestock Technologies: Introduced drought-tolerant, high-yielding pasture varieties and researched disease-resistant crops. Enhanced productivity for dairy and beef production.

Aflatoxin Management: Set up an aflaSafe facility in Namulonge to address aflatoxin challenges, with the potential to save $38M annually in lost export opportunities.

*Value Addition and Market Access*

Milk Processing: Eight mini-processing plants established for yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese. Value addition centers like the Entebbe Dairy Training School continue to train farmers.

Export Growth: Diversified milk products, including whey, butter, and UHT milk, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings.

*Future Outlook*

The government’s multifaceted approach to rural transformation through oil palm cultivation, livestock breeding, and agricultural innovations is expected to sustain household incomes, enhance food security, and strengthen Uganda's position in regional and global agricultural markets.