{UAH} Farmer earns a million a month from ox ploughing-CAMKWOKI YOUTH BUSINESS CLUBS ASSOCIATIONS WOULD BE EARNING BIG FROM THIS TECHNOLOGY HAD IT NOT BEEN BECAUSE OF LANGO NGO MAFIAS AND STATE HOUSE BLOCKING OUR FUNDS!!!
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Mbaziira with a worker. Photo by Fred Muzaale.
Posted Wednesday, October 9 2013 at 00:00
In Summary
Hakim Mbaziira says the improvement in the way he does farming has led to better yields and income. He told Fred Muzaale how he adopted a better farming method.
But before I started using ox-plough technology, I was using a hand hoe to plough the land, which not only took longer to do the work but it was also tiresome.
Because I took long to complete opening up the land, I sometimes missed planting on season, which made me to incur losses. This was because my yields were usually low or poor.
But the turning point was in 2008, when I went I visited Namutumba District and came across a number of farmers who were using ox-ploughs to cultivate their land and at the same time they offered ox-plough services to fellow farmers at a fee.
Because I had picked interest in that kind of farming technology, I requested one of them to train me on how to use ox-ploughs. I paid Shs200,000 and I received training for two months.
Adopting the technology
When I returned home, I applied the skills and knowledge I had acquired. For a start, I bought two steers (castrated bulls), one at Shs450,000 and the other at Shs390,000.
Both steers were of the Karimajong breed because these are not only energetic but also, they are not vulnerable to a number of diseases and can withstand conditions like high temperatures especially while working.
After buying the bulls, I purchased an ox- plough at Shs350,000 from an agricultural inputs shop. After that, I started training the steers to do the ploughing.
I also trained them to learn the language used while they are working like how to instruct them to start moving or when to stop or where to turn. Within two months, they had mastered the work plus the instructions and were doing work perfectly.
Now that I had got the ox-plough technology that could do the work faster and without much difficulty, I started serious commercial farming. I ploughed two acres of land within three days on which I planted maize and beans. That season, I harvested 16 bags of beans and 42 bags of maize. From the harvests, I earned Shs4.5m.
Later, I opened up another three-acre piece of land where I planted rice. From the three acres, I earned about Shs9m within four months. Because I was doing timely planting, my yields were good compared to those I used to get when using a hand-hoe.
Earnings
When other farmers in the district realised that my garden work had become easier and that I was earning much more after embracing the ox plough technology, they approached me to offer them the ox ploughing services. Others approached me asking to be trained on how to use ox-ploughs.
The charge is Shs 80,000 to work an acre, and for training farmers who want to learn how to use the technology, I charge Shs350,000.
On average, I earn about Shs1m a month just from offering ploughing services. I employ one person who helps me to "drive" the plough as I guide the animals through the land we are working on.
In a day, I can plough a half or quarter an acre depending on the type of soil. Heavy soils are difficult to plough compared to light soils.
Oxen need to be taken for work very early in the morning when temperatures are not high as high temperatures adversely affect their performance. In addition, they need to be treated humanely and mature bulls of about six years should be used for ploughing as young ones tend to be weaker.
With the proceeds from my project, I have been able to build a permanent house for family and relocated from the grass-thatched one where we were living.
Challenges
I have also managed to pay school fees for my children in good schools and above all, my standard of living has greatly improved compared to how it was before I started the business.
Even though ox-ploughing makes my work easier it has challenges. I have to spend at least Shs20,000 monthly on treatment of each ox to keep them healthy. I also spray them every week with pesticide to kill ticks as well as deworm once a month.
Another challenge is that ox ploughs can only be used in soils, which are light and without tree stamps, which makes the technology inapplicable on heavy soils.
In addition, some farmers delay to pay or avoid paying for the services and sometimes I have to forcefully demand for the money.
In future, I plan to buy another pair of oxen so that I can increase my income as more farmers embrace the technology.
This will enable me serve all my clients and at the same time get enough time for the animals to work in my garden.
Expert's take:
How to start
Ox ploughing technology can be used for tilling land and for weeding. The oxen too can be used to pull carts that transport manure or crop yields.
This type of technology is very helpful to small-scale farmers as it helps them to increase their crop yields as ploughing is done faster than when a farmer uses a hand hoe.
A farmer can rear his bulls, castrate them and when they are mature, at about five years, he or she can start training them to do the ploughing. This can be done by people with such knowledge.
Advantages
The technology provides vital power for cultivation and transport to small-scale farmer who cannot afford to buy or hire tractors.
It also provides employment and transport, and also promotes food production hence increased food security and household incomes.
It also improves soil fertility by ploughing manure (cow dung) from animals back into the soil.
Disadvantages
The animals need regular checkups to ensure that they are healthy, this increases a farmer's expenditure.
The technology cannot be used in hilly areas and on heavy soils as animals cannot easily pull the plough.
Ox ploughing can also lead to development of hard layer in the soil due to regular ploughing. This hard layer restricts movement of water in the soil and also .limits root growth.
(Mr James Rwebikire, Naads Coordinator, Kayunga District)
- STILL SURVIVING THE MAFIAS,LIVING IN FEAR AND PAIN,BEING HUNTED LEFT,RIGHT AND CENTER BY MAFIAS PLUS THEIR NETWORKS.
- ON 29/JANUARY/2004 DURING RADIO ONE EKIMEEZA TALKSHOW AT CLUB OBBLIGATTO I REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF MUSEVENI CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BOUGHT FROM NORTH KOREA AND IRAN-THAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER GULU AIRPORT HUNKER AND THE UNITED NATIONS GRABBED,DESTROYED AND TOOK AWAY THE REMAINING ONES TO UNKNOWN DESTINATION-THIS IS ONE REASON WHY PRESIDENT MUSEVENI AND HIS MAFIAS CAN NEVER-NEVER-I SAY NEVER FORGIVE ME SINCE I EXPOSED AND SPOILED THEIR DEADLY DESTRUCTIVE AGENDA FOR NORTHERN UGANDA!!!
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