MUARIK Starts Poultry and Animal Feeds Production
A variety of animal feeds produced at MUARIK Feed mill
Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) has started poultry and other animal feeds production after it received a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and felt the need to put it to use.
MUARIK is the arm of the University that interfaces with the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). It is located 21km North of Kampala along Gayaza road. Makerere University Agricultural Research institute, Kabanyolo farm was established in 1953, and upgraded to a fully fledged research institute in 1992 under the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
The Farm Manager MUARIK, Mr. Julius Ahangana said, feed production was an initiative under the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) which commenced after the renovation of the Feed Mill and recruitment of a Feed mill Manager with technical competence in mixtures and formulations to see the project through.
The Farm Manager MUARIK (L) supervising the quality of the feeds produced at the feed mill
He however said, the project did not have a boost because it had no intention of operating as it is today. It started operating in November 2016 and had its first bag of feeds produced in January 2017.
“The escalating prices of feeds on the outside market were so alarming and the quality of feeds was not the desired one; fortunately this inspired us to start our own feed mill to feed the livestock on the farm and sell to the neighbouring community.” Mr. Ahangana said adding that the feeds on the outside market were so adulterated yet the farm had the ability to process its own.
“Serious selling of poultry and dairy feeds started in February 2017 with MUARIK being the first customers of this feed mill given the fact that it has many sections which depend on each other for example it has the crop production unit that produces maize, sells it to the feed mill where it’s processed and sold to the poultry unit.” Mr. Ahangana said adding that all these units are part of MUARIK therefore there is need to support each other.
A section of the inside of the MUARIK Feed mill
Mr. Ahangana said that some of the ingredients used to make the feeds include maize bran, sunflower, cotton seedcake, egg shells, fish, wheat bran, rice bran and premixes like the broiler starter premix, calf premix, diary premix and chicks starter premix which are mixed to come up with these feeds.
“Machinery holds one tonne per mixing and it’s because of these products that we have managed to produce diary feeds, piggery feeds, poultry feeds and calf wiener”. The Farm Manager said.
The Farm Manager reported that the Feed Mill produces all types of feeds depending on the order. Mr. Ahangana also said the farm gives out samples to customers to prove the quality of the feeds.
He noted that the production and utilisation of the feeds on the university poultry unit had raised egg production up to 80% .
“As the feeds increase, we plan to open an outlet downtown in Kisenyi or Container Village to have an address for our customers in town. We are also looking forward to milk processing which should be starting very soon.” He said.
Those interested in obtaining the feeds of a 70 kg bags can access them on the farm at different prices depending on types as follows:
- Diary meal at 126,000
- Chick and duck mash at 126,000
- Sow and Weaner at 96,000
- Pig creep meal at 98,000
- Calf early weaner at 126,000
The different feeds produced at MUARIK Feed mill
The Farm Manager outlined some of the farm challenges including; An incomplete pellet machine which makes it impossible to make pellet feeds, inadequate materials, power outages, low customers among others which are to be addressed in the nearby future for example by acquiring a standby generator, constructing a number of outlets and advertising among others.
The incomplete pellet machine at the farm feed mill
The feed mill also processes human food like posho among others and being training and learning institution, it’s mandated to train students.
“Our target audiences are MUARIK, neighbours from Gayaza and Nangabo Sub County. We are after reaching farmers not necessarily making profits. We have a plan of attracting model farmers who are going to receive samples and tell the rest about our products. We are going to also reach them, teach them, train and make them believe in our products” He concluded.
Compiled by:
Marilyn Atwongyeire
Interne, Communication Office – CAES