Technologies for intensification in SW Uganda ... - Foodnet - cgiar

A major problem is lack of continuous improvement through availability of quality semen and
insemination services. Further, advanced management and veterinary services are not established
in many areas, particularly away from the centers. However, zero grazing dairy cows are now
much more common especially in Kabale , Rukungiri and Bushenyi Districts. This has greatly
improved the nutritional status of some households, added a (moderate) source of cash and led to
better manure management for soil improvement. The price for milk has dropped significantly
over the last 3 years and farmgate prices are now often below 200 U Shs / l liter. This has made
dairy farming much less profitable than previously and rendered it a less promising strategy to
reduce poverty. The extent to which the southwest enjoys a competitive advantage in national
milk production requires more investigation.
There are a number of cooling plants scattered all over the region and some processing plants in
Mbarara. The plants in Mbarara have not been very successful in penetrating the market. There is
however a potential of exporting processed milk and milk products to neighboring Rwanda,
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Northern Tanzania. This huge regional market has
not been exploited. The local consumption of milk is still very low and there is need to develop
strategies to increase milk consumption like the school milk scheme undertaken by processing
plants with primary schools in Entebbe. Parents pay on either a weekly, monthly or termly basis
for supply of a quarter a liter of milk three times a week to schoolchildren.
Goats
Goat production is based on the local breeds which are hardy and tolerant to local diseases but
with slow growth rates and small body weight. They are for meat production. There have been
attempts to introduce dairy goats using the ‘Toggenburg’ breed but there is no documented
success of this. There is also a possibility of crossing with exotics or improving the locals with
selections to meet the requirements of the export market especially in the Arab world. There is no
concerted strategy to benefit from goat production.
Goats are common in most households as a source of cash and food. Particularly in the landconstrained
highland farming systems, goats can be integrated without allocating extra land for
their pasture. They are kept in free range or tethered by the roadside. Free grazing goats are a
major constraint for the establishment of trees.
Sheep
These are not as popular as goats but are also kept on a good number of farms . Little has been
done to improve them. Current production is based on local breeds for the production of mutton.
It would need to be promoted to serve a niche market locally and for export.
Chicken
Most of the chicken produced in the region are indigenous. The indigenous chicken kept under
free range have a higher premium price and fetch a higher market price which is about double that
of the exotics. The local eggs are preferred and fetch a higher price as well. It is however difficult
to produce large quantities because they are kept under a free range system. On the other hand
intensive production of eggs and broilers based on exotic breeds, feeds and other inputs such as
veterinary drugs is increasing in the region. Strategies are required to exploit opportunities both in
the production of indigenous chicken with a ready market and the exotics which can be used to
take advantage of economies of scale. There could be a hybrid system. There is however a
challenge in farmers benefiting from the current marketing system of chicken and their products.
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