ED BUZEKI HIGHLIGHTS KYANJA FARM AS A HUB FOR URBAN FARMING

For many Kampala residents, farming has traditionally been associated with rural areas where land is abundant and agriculture is a way of life.

But at the Kyanja Agricultural Resource Centre, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is showing city dwellers that even a small backyard, a greenhouse or a carefully planned urban plot can provide food for a family and income for a household.

This was evident on Tuesday when KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki toured the urban demonstration farm in Kyanja Parish, off Gayaza Road in Nakawa division.

Moving through the greenhouse units, livestock sections, fish ponds and seedling nurseries, Buzeki observed the modern farming technologies that KCCA is promoting to help residents make productive use of limited urban spaces.

She said the centre belongs to the people of Kampala and urged residents, especially young people and students, to visit and benefit from the free training offered there.

“Many people think they need a lot of land before they can start farming. What we are demonstrating here is that with the right knowledge and technology, even a small space can be productive,” Buzeki said.

She encouraged Kampala residents to embrace urban agriculture as one way of reducing household expenses while creating opportunities to earn additional income.

Buzeki said schools should also make greater use of the centre, describing it as a practical learning environment where learners can understand food production, environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship beyond the classroom.

She said urban agriculture has the potential to improve food security while easing the economic burden on city residents

The Kyanja Agricultural Resource Centre was established in 2013 as KCCA’s demonstration and training farm for urban and peri-urban agriculture.

Over the years, it has grown into a centre where residents can learn practical farming skills, access agricultural extension services and obtain quality farm inputs at subsidised prices.

The farm features modern greenhouses, hydroponic fodder production, vegetable seedling propagation, poultry brooding, piggery, cattle rearing and fish farming, including aquaponics and catfish production.

For residents who may never have set foot on a farm, the centre offers an opportunity to see how modern agriculture works before attempting it at home.

Nicholas Kayondo, an agricultural specialist and public educator at the centre, said KCCA deliberately focuses on practical training.

“People learn better when they can see and do. We train residents in greenhouse management, seedling production and other modern farming technologies that they can adapt to the space available to them,” Kayondo said.

He said the centre receives a wide range of visitors, including students, aspiring farmers and residents interested in starting small agricultural enterprises.

Apart from training, the centre supports farmers with business management skills and helps them understand market opportunities for their produce.

Residents can also access vegetable seedlings, brooded hybrid chicks, piglets and other agricultural inputs at subsidised fees, making it easier for households to begin farming without the high costs often associated with quality inputs.

Dr Justine Alinaitwe, the Supervisor of Animal Production and Fisheries, oversees the livestock and fisheries sections of the farm.

The animal production units demonstrate how poultry, pigs, cattle and fish can be raised efficiently, even within an urban setting, while the aquaculture section introduces visitors to modern fish farming methods.

KCCA officials say the centre also conducts research into farming enterprises that are suitable for urban and peri-urban communities.

This is increasingly important as Kampala continues to grow and available land becomes more expensive.

For a household struggling with rising food costs, a small vegetable garden or a few chickens may not solve every financial challenge, but it can make a meaningful difference.

The authority has invited Kampala residents to visit the Agricultural Resource Centre, receive practical training at no cost and access quality agricultural supplies at subsidised prices.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer