Forty-year old, Elizabeth Nakabuye was a teacher by profession before turning to farming but it was not a love for farming that made Nakabuye turn her back on the teaching profession. A single mother of four, Nakabuye was struggling to make ends meet with poor pay and a deteriorating health situation. She suffers from diabetes.
“Money from teaching was meagre and I had so many demands. My health was deteriorating and I needed time to rest yet I had to earn. I decided to slow down on my work and decided to start farming. One time, I visited a friend in Nkozi who encouraged me to start keeping pigs. Ten years ago, having come to the conclusion that farming provided the best option to her problems, Nakabuye started off with two female pigs. Today she boasts of a piggery unit of 50 pigs and has expanded her back yard shelter to a quarter acre to cater for the expanding
“I was excited when I earned a lot of money from my first two pigs. So I decided to specialize in just pigs. However, it was not until four years ago that I started earning high incomes from this enterprise, Nakabuye says. “Because I had the interest and was already engaged in farming, I was identified by the NAADS team in Masaka as a model farmer. They decided that while I needed more money, it was the technical advice on good practices that I needed most. This has made all the difference.” She says. Amongst other things, NAADS took Nakabuye on various exchange programs for training.
“The important thing was expansion of my project. I was using a small area here where I could constantly check on the pigs and ensure their cleanliness,” she says. “But sometimes it would become too crowded. The pigs had problems with the swine fever and also the cost of the feeds was rising. NAADS intervened and gave me feeds and also offered to build me a shelter as long as I had the land.” But the support from NAADS also came with conditions. As a model farmer, Ms. Nakabuye is required to share information and technical knowledge with other members of the community and also allow NAADS to use her farm as a learning centre.
“Initially we shared as a group but now, many community members come to learn from here and many have started the same projects in their homes.” she said. From the sale of her piglets, Nakabuye raised money to buy land for the expanded shelter and a water catchment tank. She also ventured into other farming enterprises; a banana plantation, as well as a vegetable garden. These gardens are also purely organic utilizing only waste from the
piggery as manure.
“I am happy. I have five mother pigs now that produce three times a year. They produce over 10 piglets each. From the five pigs alone, I make over five million shillings every year,” she states. She envisions that this income shall triple soon, as most of the 50 piglets she has retained are to be kept purely for breeding. Each piglet goes for 35,000 UGX and a mature pig 150,000 UGX.
“I don’t regret leaving my teaching profession. I earn much more money and my health has greatly improved. I have managed to educate my children and my business is growing. When I start selling my bananas, my income will be even greater,” she reflects in a moment of introspection. “I have come to appreciate the government NAADS program for one thing, equiping the farmers with the technical knowledge she said”. Many farmers fail because they don’t have enough knowledge on the enterprises they pursue.”
August 23, 2011 at 12:57 pm
It’s interesting how every one seeks after emplyment in the ever – competitive formal sector when others are leaving it for “greener pastures”. I think Elizabeth is showing us the way to go, even if it means going agric just to earn side income. It starts from there, and before we all know it, food scarcity will have been addressed as on by one makes a bundle. Cheers Elizabeth, cheers to NAADS!
August 24, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Thank you Joel, we encourage every one with land to engage in Agriculture because it is the sure way to go
August 18, 2011 at 4:38 pm
i can also be Contacted on Pig Feeding in Case any one needs that information ???On 0752958853
August 8, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Ms Nakabuye , can you call me on 0772420437
Or Text me your tel Contacts.
Dr Isaac
http://www.nserester.org
August 2, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Hi All,
thanks for sharing with us i need help on how to benefit from my piece of land which is 60km from where i stay.
July 27, 2011 at 8:35 am
Thanks for the good news.but please avail me with more information and contacts to get you and visit your structures if possible
November 2, 2011 at 5:33 am
what could be the chemicals for making pigs to have afaster growth?
November 2, 2011 at 5:36 am
pliz u can advise me abt pig rearing using ;james.gingo@yahoo.com
July 24, 2011 at 9:08 pm
In fact am planning to start the same venture any time.I have not been in uganda for some time time,but it is that venture i want to do in.
July 6, 2011 at 4:23 pm
I agree with you farming is the way to go pliz a physical address would help most of us who wld want to come , visit and learn at a given time. thanks you
June 28, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for motivating some of us who are aspiring to become farmers in the near future.I would like to know which is the best pig breed to rear for commercial purposes.Thank you
June 15, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I wish you could tell us more about housing of pigs and feeding for us new farmers.thanks Elizabeth.
June 15, 2011 at 5:15 pm
That is amazing,good encouragement for us new farmer.
June 8, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Share with me information on sellection, feeding and management of pigs. I’m in a process of starting a piggery unit. However, information has been a challenge. Its good to hear that piggery is profitable….
grace
May 28, 2011 at 4:56 pm
This is unbelievable how Ms Nakabuye turned from earning from almost nothing to being rich through NAADS. This is really too good to be true.
May 10, 2011 at 2:16 am
Truly, Piggery is a right way to go. thanks to NAADS.