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Mr Lajul shows some of the sows and boars at his farm. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OKELLO
Working
with his father, who was an agricultural officer in Gulu District,
Eric Lajul, 24, a lawyer grew up with a passion for his father’s
profession.
Though, he did not continue with sciences after O-Level and ended up a lawyer, it could not deter his childhood interests
Under Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (Nusaf), they got 80 piglets in 2006. With that they started piggery in Layibi Division, Gulu Municipality. Then, Lajul was a high school student in Luweero District.
Whether it was hard luck or a lesson for the future, all the piglets died due to swine fever. Though Lajul was discouraged, he did not give up.
“I waited for that misfortune to end. In 2008, I resumed piggery with one female piglet, a local breed that cost me Shs140,000,” he says.
When it became a sow, the first litter was seven piglets, which he sold off and bought four pigs (three sows and a boar). “They were an improved breed. Each was at Shs150,000,’’ he adds.
Lajul was keen on monitoring his pigs as he did not want history to repeat itself. He ensured the animals were dewormed regularly. The number of pigs increased to 90.
Lajul rears his pigs on half an hectare of land; it is a family land that he acquired at no cost.
Feeding
He controls the feeding cost by mixing a bag of rice husks with another of chicken droppings, which he gets from poultry farmers in the community.
“I use nine bags of rice husks together with nine bags of chicken droppings to feed 90 pigs.
This helps me to save about Shs440,000 that I would have spent in a month,” Lajul explains.
The pigs are fed thrice a day, and each eats minimum of four kilos of the feeds. All this is to minimise the cost of over consumption.
Labour
Lajul is being helped by his own family members to work at the farm, as means of acquiring skills that could help them in future.
“I don’t pay them hard cash but in form of animals as we traditionally give to anyone who takes care of your animals in our region,’’ he explains. “I also help in taking care of their basic needs at home and at school.’’
Market
Lajul has a ready market for the pigs as the locals who want to rear the pigs buy them from his farm.
In addition, at least three sows produce a litter every month. Each of the sows produce no less than 10 piglets per litter.
“Some of my customers book the piglets before the sows produce. They deposit Shs100,000 because the demand is high. By doing this, they are sure of getting piglets,’’ Lajul says.
He also slaughters pigs from his farm and sells pork to kiosk owners at Shs7,000 per kilogramme. For each animal slaughtered, he earns Shs800,000.
Achievements
With the proceeds from pig farming, Lajul has helped pay school fees for his siblings; one of them is a first year student at Gulu University.
He has also expanded his farm to include dairy cattle and rabbits.
“I also give free practical lessons to my customers on mixing feed and disease control measures,’’ Lajul says.
Challenges
The major challenge is feeds. During the dry season, the price of the rice husks shoots up. “I spend more during the dry season on feeding, I end up with a higher expenditure than planned.”
Future plans
He plans to start a community based organisation, which will bring together all livestock farmers in Layibi Division.
The aim is to enable them to access trainings where they can acquire various skills and knowledge on different farming methods.
“There are those who want to specialise in a particular kind of animal farming. I want to help them on how to do it so that they realise their goals,’’ Lajul explains.
In addition, he wants them to access funds from donors and other benefactors and s well as educate them on how to use loans and other credit facilities profitably.
SOURCE: MONITOR
Though, he did not continue with sciences after O-Level and ended up a lawyer, it could not deter his childhood interests
Under Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (Nusaf), they got 80 piglets in 2006. With that they started piggery in Layibi Division, Gulu Municipality. Then, Lajul was a high school student in Luweero District.
Whether it was hard luck or a lesson for the future, all the piglets died due to swine fever. Though Lajul was discouraged, he did not give up.
“I waited for that misfortune to end. In 2008, I resumed piggery with one female piglet, a local breed that cost me Shs140,000,” he says.
When it became a sow, the first litter was seven piglets, which he sold off and bought four pigs (three sows and a boar). “They were an improved breed. Each was at Shs150,000,’’ he adds.
Lajul was keen on monitoring his pigs as he did not want history to repeat itself. He ensured the animals were dewormed regularly. The number of pigs increased to 90.
Lajul rears his pigs on half an hectare of land; it is a family land that he acquired at no cost.
Feeding
He controls the feeding cost by mixing a bag of rice husks with another of chicken droppings, which he gets from poultry farmers in the community.
“I use nine bags of rice husks together with nine bags of chicken droppings to feed 90 pigs.
This helps me to save about Shs440,000 that I would have spent in a month,” Lajul explains.
The pigs are fed thrice a day, and each eats minimum of four kilos of the feeds. All this is to minimise the cost of over consumption.
Labour
Lajul is being helped by his own family members to work at the farm, as means of acquiring skills that could help them in future.
“I don’t pay them hard cash but in form of animals as we traditionally give to anyone who takes care of your animals in our region,’’ he explains. “I also help in taking care of their basic needs at home and at school.’’
Market
Lajul has a ready market for the pigs as the locals who want to rear the pigs buy them from his farm.
In addition, at least three sows produce a litter every month. Each of the sows produce no less than 10 piglets per litter.
“Some of my customers book the piglets before the sows produce. They deposit Shs100,000 because the demand is high. By doing this, they are sure of getting piglets,’’ Lajul says.
He also slaughters pigs from his farm and sells pork to kiosk owners at Shs7,000 per kilogramme. For each animal slaughtered, he earns Shs800,000.
Achievements
With the proceeds from pig farming, Lajul has helped pay school fees for his siblings; one of them is a first year student at Gulu University.
He has also expanded his farm to include dairy cattle and rabbits.
“I also give free practical lessons to my customers on mixing feed and disease control measures,’’ Lajul says.
Challenges
The major challenge is feeds. During the dry season, the price of the rice husks shoots up. “I spend more during the dry season on feeding, I end up with a higher expenditure than planned.”
Future plans
He plans to start a community based organisation, which will bring together all livestock farmers in Layibi Division.
The aim is to enable them to access trainings where they can acquire various skills and knowledge on different farming methods.
“There are those who want to specialise in a particular kind of animal farming. I want to help them on how to do it so that they realise their goals,’’ Lajul explains.
In addition, he wants them to access funds from donors and other benefactors and s well as educate them on how to use loans and other credit facilities profitably.
SOURCE: MONITOR
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