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Uganda’s Fort Portal Catholic Diocese Starts Dairy Farming to Boost Income

Bishop Robert Kasaija Muhiirwa Akiiki during the official handing over of a zero grazing dairy unit to the Diocese of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese. Credit: Jubilee Radio

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal in the East African nation of Uganda has started a zero-grazing dairy farm as a source of income, as well as to promote modernized agriculture in the Diocese.

The project that has been under the care of the country’s National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research Institute is a response to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s call to adopt commercial agriculture.

Speaking at the launch of the four-dairy-cow unit at the Episcopal Diocesan residence, the Director of NARO, Titus Alicai said a well-established structure of the project has been handed over to the Diocese. 

“It has been my pleasure to officiate the handing over of a zero grazing dairy unit to the Diocese of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese in the presence of Bishop Robert Kasaija Muhiirwa Akiiki,” Dr. Alicai said in a Tuesday, June 11 report.

He added, “This is a project that has been running for the last three months and it involves construction work, so we have handed over this day a structure for the dairy animals that would have a section for their feeding, a section for their rest, a section for their exercise and another section for their milking and the final section for the animal’s grass.”

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The government official said that the agricultural organization has also handed over a unit for the workers and pit latrines that will serve the unit.

Bishop Muhiirwa lauded NARO Rwebitaba Institute for journeying with the Episcopal See in realizing zero grazing to promote income that he said would be essential for the day-to-day activities of the Diocese.

The Local Ordinary of Uganda’s Fort Portal Diocese said that the project will not only be useful as a source of milk for sale but will also be a source of biogas and manure to support the productivity of the banana plantation at the Bishop’s residence.

The Ugandan Bishop said that the project would act as a demonstration center for all parishes in the Diocese, inspiring them to adopt modern agriculture.

“I got the thought of zero grazing from the Agricultural program on Jubilee Radio. I was inspired to give it a try and thank God it’s turning into a reality,” Bishop Muhiirwa said.

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He added, “Much as the cows have not arrived, we are hopeful that they will be here in the shortest period possible. I urge Jubilee Radio to continue enlightening people on such educative and transformative programs so they can increase their household income.”

During the International Labour Day on May 1 this year, President Museveni reiterated his message of wealth creation through commercial agriculture and cautioned Ugandans against complaining that there are no jobs in the country.

“In 1996, Uganda had steadied, and in our manifesto, we mobilized people on how to get out of poverty. We recommended you on the four-acre model. The first acre is planted with coffee, the second with fruits, the third with grassland for zero grazing, and another with food crops,” he said.

He urged Ugandans to engage in poultry farming and piggery for those who are not Muslims, and those near the swamps to build fishponds for fish farming.

“If Ugandans used their fertile land wisely to generate income through agriculture, all of the children who go out to work for Arabs would not be there,” said the Ugandan president.

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Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.