By Mulengera Reporters
The Political Commissar for Special Forces Command (SFC) which is charged with guarding the President, First Family members and securing all Uganda’s sensitive installations, has commended NAGRC through a written appreciation recognizing the revolutionary role the Entebbe-based National Animal Genetic Resources Center & Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) is playing in supporting and promoting livestock farming in Uganda.
Specifically focusing on the Ankole long-horned cattle breed preservation and multiplication initiatives, SFC observed that NAGRC’s breeding programs have not only supported profitable livestock farming across Uganda but are also consistent with the President’s consistent messaging on the need to preserve and multiply the Ankole long-horned cattle breed.
That with allies like NAGRC, there is no way Gen Museveni’s personal efforts in the same direction won’t yield results and desired outcomes for the benefit of the Ugandan people.
NAGRC’s top leadership has been recognized for purposefully and deliberately putting the President’s family-preserved indigenous long-horned bulls and heifers to the most appropriate utilization.
The President’s family-preserved and donated indigenous breeds have effectively been utilized by NAGRC to amplify cattle breeding programs at the government livestock farms both at Entebbe-based data bank and Nshaara ranch located in Greater Mbarara area.
That by leveraging the President’s good will gesture to promote preservation and multiplication of Ankole long-horned cattle, NAGRC has been able to contribute to the survival and perpetuation of high quality indigenous livestock breeds and thereby contributing to Uganda’s long term development and socio-economic transformation agenda.
In the same appreciation note, Major Nelson Gabosya also makes reference to the CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s regular phrase that “any step ahead is a step closer to success.”
Corroborating the fact that NAGRC is the regional center of excellence for livestock breeding programs since inception, Major Gabosya also recognizes the professionalism, dedication, knowledge and expertise which NAGRC headquarters and field staff exhibit when inducting visitors around the center’s programs, activities, initiatives and interventions in different parts of the country.
He says that all this shows that NAGRC leadership has done a great job inculcating in all its staff President Museveni’s vision of leveraging sub sectors like livestock to amplify the Government of Uganda’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.
There has been tremendous growth in livestock numbers and infrastructural developments on all government ranches and farms across the country. Reports indicate livestock farmers are accessing high performing livestock breeder stock from government ranches and farms at subsidized prices.
Given that livestock farming guarantees escape from poverty more than crop agriculture, parliamentarians have consistently called for increased funding for NAGRC to boost its capacity to breed on scale, multiply and avail breeding stock of dairy and beef cattle, pigs, goats, fish and poultry to farmers at affordable prices.
The parliamentary report indicated that a high performing dairy heifer costs about Shs1m on a government breeding center while it costs Shs3-5m on the open market. Given that farmers suffer with costly feeds and fake veterinary drugs, its noble that breeding stock gets accessible at affordable prices. NAGRC is mandated to not only conserve indigenous livestock breeds but also breed on scale, multiply and avail to farmers. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
