Introduction

The Production Department in Kabarole District promotes agricultural production and related services focusing on boosting productivity, market-oriented sustainable farming, and ensuring food security & household income improvement.
The department includes Agriculture, Veterinary, Entomology, and Fisheries sections, staffed by 32 officers distributed between district HQ and Lower Local Governments.

2024/2025 Achievements

Production Section

• Received 60KV generator under ACDP project, delivered to Nyabuswa Cooperative Farmers’ Association.
• Distributed 10,240 Hass avocado seedlings across multiple sub-counties.
• Facilitated district learning visits to irrigation and mixed farm schemes.
• Procured and distributed bee hives, fertilizers, and 10,000 fish fingerlings to farmers.
• Rehabilitation of Kihondo slaughter facility ongoing, expected completion June 2025.
• Conducted pest surveillance, agro-input accreditation, and farmer trainings improving yields and service delivery.

Agriculture Section

Implementing Ugift Micro Scale Irrigation and LEGS projects, boosting smallholder irrigation with co-funding and awareness campaigns, demonstration sites, and radio programs.

Ugift Farmer Beneficiaries: 34 farmers currently benefitting across sub-counties including Ruteete, Harugongo, and Kiko Town Council.

LEGS E-Voucher System

Piloted in two cooperatives providing 50/50 cost sharing for inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, strengthening farmer access to quality inputs.

Entomology Section

• Distributed 50 Langstroth bee hives to local bee-keeping groups.
• Mobilized 27 bee-keeping groups for climate-smart agriculture.
• Trained youth groups on black soldier fly breeding and honey value addition.
• Monitored centrifuge equipment and conducted farm visits.
• Implemented tsetse fly monitoring & control along wildlife reserves.

Fisheries Section

Kabarole’s favorable climate supports aquaculture development, with a shift from subsistence to climate-smart fish farming practices.

• Monitored construction of earthen pond in Kiko Town Council.
• Trained farmers on aquaculture best practices.
• Distributed 10,000 fish fingerlings and monitored stocking.
• Linked fish farmers to buyers and inspected handling facilities.
• Verified aquaculture farmer groups for climate-smart agriculture support.

Veterinary Sector Overview

The veterinary sub-sector supports sustainable socio-economic growth through commercial livestock production, improving food security and incomes. Livestock numbers include approx. 40,000 cattle, 101,000 poultry, 75,000 goats, and 60,000 pigs.

Despite subsistence dominance, commercialization is growing with government investment in value chains, cold storage, and vaccination programs.

• • 40,000+ doses Foot & Mouth Disease vaccine utilized
• • 20,000+ doses PPR vaccine administered
• • 2,000 doses rabies vaccine distributed

Challenges include acaricide resistance, antimicrobial resistance, low staffing, and funding gaps.

“If everyone does a little, then none of us has to do a lot.” – Appreciating veterinary extension staff commitment.

Challenges

• Late release of funds impacting agricultural extension targets.
• Low staffing levels, with staff often covering multiple sub-counties.
• Livestock disease outbreaks, especially Peste des Petit Ruminant causing significant losses.