Starting goat farming in Uganda
Hassan Ahimbisibwe is a local urban farmer in Kampala district, Uganda, who started with two goats in a herd. Mr. Ahimbisibwe was a teacher before he started practicing goat rearing in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After schools were closed, and we lost our jobs, left with no option but to start up a new business to sustain our families.
He bought two young goats, one local female and a Boerr cross, using his savings from tutoring in his limited space with He believed that starting with small was better than waiting for the perfect time
How he started
feeding and shelter
Hassan built a low-budget wooden shelter using wood poles and used up iron sheets in front of his small yard. For the first year, he fed his goats with banana peels p potato peels, which were collected in the suck from the neighbours and even some local restaurants
In October 2021, the female goat gave birth to two twins, one male and the other female.This gave me more strength and courage that things could work, Hassan said.
smart breeding choices
After my female goat gave birth i decideed not to sell them both Hassan said ,instead i sold the male young goat to help him run his home and kept the female one for breeding,this wasnt an easy choice for me he said money at stage is tempting to sell early is high
by 2020 his goats had multiplied and by selling the few male goats ,he managed to save this money to buy a pure boer buck from his role models farm in kiruhura"650000 imagine ,for a single goat and that was the risk I had to take to expand my farm
Challenges in the goat business
Goat farming also has challenges, but it's about how you face them. In his second year of farming, Hassan lost two goats to pneumonia during the rainy season. He was advised to increase his ventilation system and vaccinate his goats regularly.
Unlike in rural areas, where goats can feed on grass and the surrounding green, Mr. Hassan faced the challenge of food in the urban areas. Food was scarce. I used to collect banana peels, potato peels, and all sorts of edible items in sacks from the neighboring homes and the local restaurants.
Threats from thieves and stray dogs, Hassan lost one of his goats during the festive season, and he responded by adding security lights around his home to cover all the dark spots where a thief can hide. Safety is key in urban areas
growth and opportunity
Today Hassan owns a farm of 60 goats. His farm has provided him with income from sales he has saved and bought land to expand his farm and grow napier grass to feed his goats. Ahimbisibwe's dream is to reach 100 goats next year.
conclusion
Farming rewards those who don't rush, just like Mr. Hassan Ahimbisibwe. Starting doesn't require much, but commitment and persistence, whether you're a beginner or a pro, you can start with two goats into a successful herd.