President Museveni unveils Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja's model and skilling farm in Kakumiro on Saturday.
President Museveni unveils Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja’s model and skilling farm in Kakumiro on Saturday.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Saturday visited and commissioned the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja’s model and skilling farm in Kakumiro District. The farm was established with technical support from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to demonstrate the effectiveness of the 4-Acre Model, an agricultural strategy championed by the President. The model is designed to help smallholder farmers maximize productivity on limited land by integrating food crops, cash crops, livestock, and poultry.
The farm serves as a practical demonstration of how the 4-Acre Model can transform rural livelihoods, boost household incomes, and enhance food security. It integrates a range of high-value enterprises, including onions, bananas, poultry, vegetables, pasture, dairy cows, piggery, and coffee. Notably, it also features a mother garden for the improved KR coffee varieties developed by NARO, serving both as a training hub and a source of high-quality planting materials for surrounding communities.
Speaking about the initiative, the Prime Minister commended NARO’s technical guidance and innovation in establishing the farm. She emphasized the role of practical demonstration in inspiring communities and validating government-led agricultural models:
“This farm is a demonstration that with the right support, every Ugandan can benefit from agriculture. I thank NARO for walking this journey with me and helping turn this vision into reality. It is a true example of leadership by doing.”
The Director General of NARO, Dr. Yona Baguma, underscored the significance of science-led agriculture and the importance of scaling up proven agricultural models:
“NARO has developed improved, high-yielding, resilient coffee varieties, specifically KR1 to KR10. We have further developed technology for rapidly multiplying these varieties to ensure they are accessible to farmers. The mother garden established here is among over 700 mother gardens across the country, and in our assessment, the one at the Prime Minister’s farm is second only to that at the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI). Through this technology, NARO is fulfilling the government’s commitment to providing quality planting materials to farmers, increasing productivity at the farm level.”
Dr. Baguma also highlighted NARO’s contributions beyond coffee:
“We have developed and rolled out improved banana varieties, capable of producing harvestable bunches within just one year if well managed. The banana plantation at this farm, established in August last year, is already over 80% in fruiting stage. This is a clear demonstration of NARO’s commitment to enhancing resilient food security through fast-growing, fast-maturing varieties.
Further, NARO has developed intensive dairy management systems to enhance productivity. Recognizing that some farmers may not afford high-cost facilities, we have also demonstrated alternatives using locally available, low-cost materials that can deliver similar results. This model farm is a powerful response to the President’s call for practical demonstration of the 4-Acre Model to ensure both food and economic security. Based on our assessment, it is indeed a model worth replicating across the country.”
Dr. Baguma noted that while the 4-Acre Model is transformative, NARO is also developing tailored 1-Acre and 2-Acre models to address land scarcity challenges in areas like Kabale, the Mt. Elgon sub-region and other areas:
“These models will further empower farmers to break the cycle of poverty. We therefore call upon the government and His Excellency the President to support NARO in rapidly rolling out these models across the country, aligning them with the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other government initiatives. Importantly, these models provide platforms to engage and recruit youth and women into the money economy.”
The Director General further emphasized the remarkable transformation of the farm:
“When we began designing this model farm in August last year, the site was rocky and seemingly unproductive. Today, it stands as a thriving example of how science-led agriculture can turn adversity into opportunity.”
Dr. Swidiq Mugerwa, the NARO Deputy Director General in charge of Research Coordination, explained to the President that the farm collects 150 litres of milk daily, with each litre sold at UGX 1,500. Additionally, the farm collects 266 trays of eggs every day, each tray selling at UGX 10,000. He highlighted the important role the farm is playing in supplying coffee seedlings across the region, noting that it has the capacity to produce over 400,000 coffee seedlings annually. Dr. Mugerwa emphasized that this model demonstrates how small farms can be economically viable, productive, and serve as a foundation for community transformation.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, commended the government for its continued support to agricultural research. He also appreciated NARO’s role in establishing demonstration farms and skilling centres across the country to promote practical learning and empower farmers.
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