Browsing by Author "Muyinza, Harriet"

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    Current Status and Potential Opportunities for Uganda’s Pig Sub Sector: A Review
    (Science and Development, 2024-12-20) Kasima, Junior Senyonga; Mugonola, Basil; Muyinza, Harriet; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    Pig production is one of the most important livestock sub-sectors in agricultural economy of Uganda. However, pig production is not a priority enterprise in the government endeavors to uplift livelihoods of Ugandans, which has deterred the sub-sector from realizing its full potential. This review explores opportunities that pig farmers and policy makers could exploit to improve pig production in the country. Since gender inclusivity is pivotal in global agricultural development, the review examines the level of gender inclusivity in Uganda’s pig production, the key constraints to pig production, and opportunities that could boost growth of the sub-sector. The review has identified that there is an increase in female participation in pig production, which portrays realization of faster growth of Uganda’s pig production. This faster growth might however be deterred by frequent African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks, high cost of feeding and low quality of feed materials due to aflatoxin contamination. Offensive smell from pig houses could also constrain pig production especially in densely populated areas. Potential opportunities for Uganda’s pig production include use of alternative feeds like black soldier fly larvae and biochar. Black soldier fly larvae grow on readily available organic wastes and are rich in proteins while biochar improves the immunity of pigs. Nixtamalization, a process involving the treatment of maize with an alkaline solution to reduce aflatoxin levels, could be explored to mitigate feed contamination while indigenous microorganism solution could be applied on deep litter beddings to reduce offensive odor in pig house. In conclusion, the study observed that Uganda has untapped opportunities that, once utilized, could improve pig production. These, if adopted, could contribute to a swifter take-off in the pig sub-sector and ensure that future domestic demand for pork is met by our own production. The potential alternatives are also applicable to pig production in any developing country.
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    Indigenous Technical Knowledge and Its Potential Application to Uganda's Pig Sub‐Sector
    (Wiley‐VCH GmbH, 2024-10-22) Kasima, Junior Senyonga; Kidega, Kenneth; Mugonola, Basil; Muyinza, Harriet; Kizza‐Nkambwe, Sarah; Beyihayo, Geoffrey Akiiki; Nokrach, James; Mpewo, Maxmillan; Kisaame, Marx; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    Uganda's pork consumption is speculated to exceed any other livestock meat consumption by 2050. However, the current trend in pig production may not meet the demand due to pig production constraints such as recurrent disease incidences and high feeding costs. The proposed modern practices are not cost-effective, especially for resource-constrained pig farmers. This review, therefore, synthesises previous studies on the practicability of integrating Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in pig production to mitigate the prevailing pig production challenges in Uganda. By employing ITK, smallholder farmers have realised that indigenous pig breeds are disease-resistant and suit the prevailing harsh tropical conditions. In addition, affordable plant-based concoctions have been developed to cure diseases in pigs. For example, Centella asiatica has been identified as a potential purgative for diarrhoeal infections. Integrating pigs in cropping systems has also been adopted as a low-cost alternative to effectively feed pigs for optimal performance. Fortunately, most of the ITK options for solving pig production challenges are feasible in Uganda. Thus, ITK should be embedded in the country's extension system to increase smallholder farmers' awareness about its potential of improving pig production. An ITK-modern technology integration would probably meet the acceptance and be suitable for commercial pig producers.