NICHOLAS A
Rukungiri District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Johnson Ninsiima, has challenged cattle keepers in Rukungiri District to adopt modern farming methods that emphasize value addition to make cattle farming a profitable business.
He made these remarks on Thursday during a one-day cattle keepers’ workshop organized by Modern Farmers Distribution Point Rukungiri in conjunction with URUS Uganda Limited. The workshop, which attracted both dairy and beef farmers from across the district, aimed at equipping farmers with modern farming skills.
Dr. Ninsiima urged farmers to embrace value addition by adopting improved farming techniques with government support. He emphasized the importance of farmers’ cooperative societies, noting that the government is more likely to support farmers who work together.
The function also marked the commissioning of URUS Uganda’s offices in Rwenkuraijo Trading Center, which will provide farmers with access to essential products such as semen, animal feeds, and veterinary medicines.
Dr. William Kabanda, the Western Regional Manager of URUS Uganda, said the organization is committed to helping farmers maximize profits regardless of herd size by offering technical support.
He noted that India is the world’s leading milk-producing country, followed by Brazil, and stated that URUS, which originated in the USA, is dedicated to improving milk production in Africa.
Dr. Kabanda highlighted URUS operations in East Africa, which include training farmers on dairying as a business, supplying elite genetics, and providing quality feeds to boost milk production. He encouraged farmers to embrace modern genetic improvement methods such as embryo transfer and artificial insemination.
King Kamuhiirwe, a farmer and senior artificial insemination expert, said the workshop aimed at revitalizing dairy farming in Rukungiri. He observed that many dairy farmers lack knowledge on how to boost milk production and urged them to adopt new methods to increase output and income.
He further noted that the workshop sought to change the mindset of farmers who have become complacent with low milk production. Kamuhiirwe also encouraged young people to join dairy farming, emphasizing that it is a viable business opportunity.
He explained that the newly opened URUS offices in Rwenkuraijo will help farmers easily access farm inputs such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer services, animal feeds, and expert guidance.
Farmers including Mugiri Frank and Alex Bob Ruginde applauded URUS Uganda for organizing the workshop, saying it would help them adopt modern farming practices to improve milk production and increase their earnings.
They also expressed gratitude for the new URUS offices in Rwenkuraijo, noting that they previously had to travel long distances to Mbarara to access essential services such as animal feeds and artificial insemination.
