The Uganda Animal Feed Manufacturers Association(UGAFMA) has said it has started the process of setting up the first agricultural polytechnic in Uganda.
According to UGAFMA Secretary General, David Waliggo, the polytechnic will teach systems for selling and marketing animal feeds, pricing, mixing animal feeds and how to grow animal feed products.
Waliggo said that this will help animal feed manufacturers address the issue of poor quality and quantity that the industry currently faces caused by a lack of education on what to do by members.
He added that they have already identified land in Wakiso district as well as getting in touch with counterparts from South Africa to formulate a syllabus to be followed at the agricultural polytechnic.
Waliggo revealed, they are also going to put in place a commodity exchange that will help govern the pricing of animal and chicken feeds for both sellers and buyers to sanitize the industry.
The animal feed manufacturers say the association will also enforce standards and regulations within the industry to make it attractive but also benefit members.
Aimable Mbarushimana, the operations director for Murwana J.Peter Stores Limited which deals in manufacturing of local Feeds disclosed that Ugandans have the capacity to produce all local Animals Feeds but due to lack of knowledge and skills to make them , traders and growers have instead embraced imported feeds which he said must end.
The Principal Range ecologist under the Department of Animal and nutrition in the ministry of Agriculture Denis Mulongo Maholo who officiated the meeting said there are already existing schools of Agriculture in the country but it will also support the set up of polytechnic institute of Animals Feeds for development of local Animal Feeds in the country.
He has also advised them to consider quality when making their feeds such that their products compete in the market.
