MPA-Cow Project
The Cow has installed Unity and Teamwork in my family
Story by: Mugabi Lazarus_Doc. Officer
In the Newly founded district of Kalungu, Bukenya Aloysius’ family resides and they are one of the
many beneficiaries of MPA Cow Project. The Bukenyas are residents of Lukerere village in Kalungu
Sub County and their family comprises of nine children (4 boys and 5 girls) and they do farming on
a 2 acre piece of land.
They received an in-calf heifer in the year 2011 and since then, their lives have changed.
Aloysius is one of those farmers we visited with Sterling (during his MPA visit tour), who is
accessing the direct impact of the Project to the beneficiaries in different districts of Masaka
Diocese.
Aloysius and his wife during R. Sterling’ visit at their home
Aloysius is the chairman elect of Kukerere village who said that he warmly welcomed the cow
project in his home and to his entire village, and this is how he told his story.
I joined the Cow Project in order to increase my income but also to set up an example to encourage
my village members join Caritas MADDO Cow Project and share from its benefits.
Before, I was rearing 4 local breed cows on free range system but they yielded little despite my
family’s hard work to look after them. My wife, at one time, threatened to leave my home because
she was really tired of these animals complaining that besides her garden and house work, she had
to move the animals in search for green pastures every day.
The children also had to first graze the cows or fetch water downstream before they left for school
and thereafter collect firewood thus missing out on school at times.
Therefore I decided to sell off all these local cows and resorted to zero grazing as the new cow
project required that the cow be reared at home other than free range system.
In 2011, I received an in-calf heifer from Caritas MADDO Cow Project, after we attended an 8
months training that involved good farming practices( digging contours) and sustainable
agribusiness aimed at increasing food and income in our homes. But since the introduction of the
cow in my home, between my wife, children and I are living harmoniously. The children are doing
school on time because they are not wasting any more time grazing the cows and collecting fire
wood like before. My wife, who always threatened on leaving me, is so grateful that she no longer
has to use the smoky firewood kitchen but now she enjoys preparing meals faster with biogas.
Aloysius’ wife is so grateful to have this biogas plant
A cup of time is prepared faster than usaul
In fact the Cow Project has installed unity and teamwork in my family i.e. besides house work I milk
and chop cow grass as the children clean the cow shed while their mother mixes the cow dung and
water for the daily biogas input. Zero grazing unlike free range system, has more benefits like
proper collection of dung that is used for biogas and there is reduced expenses treating the cow
diseases brought about the movement of cows for pasture.
In addition to the family unity, our food nutrition and income have been improved. The milk
production after calving is 15-18 litres of milk every day. We add 4 litres to porridge for
consumption, 3 litres are for the calf whereas the rest (9-10 litres) are sold to the community to earn
a daily income. I save shs. 270.000 ($ 108) with Centenary bank every month of which I use to buy
cow insecticides for spraying and I can now afford my family basic needs so far, including paying
all my children school fees in better UPE(private) school. Part of the saving was also used to furnish
the house (cementing the floor) and also constructed a water tank that we use to harvest water when
it rains hence my children have a reduced burden of fetching water from the distant shallow wells.
When it comes to the use of manure, Bukenya’s wife told us that she is saving so much by using
organic and compost manure from the bio-slurry instead of buying artificial fertilizers.
The cabbages also supplement our food diet
The young coffee plantation looks promising
The contours and manure have improved the plantations
Ova cado is one of the fruit trees
Bukenya’s wife said “I don’t use bio gas for cooking and lighting only, but also use bio slurry that
has greatly improved our soil fertility and this is evident by the quality and increased crop yields.
The bananas are bigger than before while the coffee and fruits yields have increased seasonally
(1 bunch of banana that used to buy shs. 6000($2.5), now costs shs. 20.000_ $8).”
Biogas has also saved us from fetching firewood in the distant bushes, hence a smoke free kitchen
that enables me prepare meals fast and in time. My family and I have now a good health due to the
balanced diet during our meals; that includes milk, fresh fruits, leafy vegetables and a variety of
food crops.
A kitchen garden with Spinach, Paw paws, Cabbages, Orange trees
Despite the fact that their cow has delivered two male calves so far, it’s hoped high that their cow
will deliver a female calf since it’s now seven month in-calf but this has not discouraged them but
inspired them to work harder as they wait to Pass-On.
Aloysius’ wife told us that they may not be the richest but not a poor family any more that cannot
afford the basics of life. She is also thankful that MPA is funding Caritas MADDO Cow Project to
assist the needy households and encouraging rural farmers engage in agribusiness in order to
increase their income and ensure food security.