By Brian Atuhura
A successful four -acre model farm established by Homa Farm Director Moses Onono in Gulu District has attracted admiration from leaders and farmers from Masindi District seeking to learn modern commercial farming practices.

The demonstration farm,located in Cwero village, Kal-ali Parish, Paicho Sub-County, was established in July 2024 at Onono's mother's home with the aim of integrating multiple enterprises to generate sustainable income.

While hosting a delegation from Masindi District led by the District Chairperson,Onono explained that the project focuses on six key enterprises designed to maximize productivity on limited land.

He revealed that poultry farming has become one of the most profitable ventures on the farm, occupying only a quarter acre of land.The farm initially stocked 1,200 layer birds which are currently producing between 30 and 35 trays of eggs daily.
"Each tray is sold at shs 12,000, translating into about shs 360,000 earned every day from egg sales,"Onono said.

He added that the farm recently introduced another batch of 5,000 birds aged about three months and one week, which are expected to start laying eggs within the next four to five weeks.
"At peak production,we expect to collect about 180 trays of eggs per day from both the old and new birds,"he noted.

According to Onono,the poultry enterprise is projected to generate nearly shs two million daily within the next two months.By December this year,the farm targets to rear over 16,000 birds,a venture expected to return more than shs 1.4 billion annually.

Beyond poultry,Onono said the farm is expanding into piggery,with structures already completed for a pig fattening project targeting 100 pigs.

However,he recounted previous setbacks after losing more than 150 pigs to swine fever and over 1,500 layer birds to fowl cholera on the main farm, experiences that prompted him to strengthen biosecurity measures.

"We have now prioritized strict biosecurity in both the poultry and piggery units to prevent disease outbreaks,"he explained.

The farm is also investing in coffee production through a two acre coffee nursery bed expected to produce about 2,000 seedlings annually.

Onono predicted that the Acholi Sub-Region could emerge as one of Uganda's leading coffee producing areas within the next 10 to 15 years.

Additionally,the farm has established a 10 acre coffee demonstration garden and a 200 acre coffee plantation located several kilometers away from the model farm.Five acres of clonal coffee planted last year are already showing promising growth.Other planned enterprises include dairy farming, banana growing,and macadamia production.

Speaking during the visit,Gulu District Production Officer Emmanuel Omara, commended Homa Farm for becoming one of the country's outstanding commercial farms.

Omara noted that Gulu District remains a major producer of soybeans,maize,and beans,while coffee,cocoa,and bananas are emerging as important enterprises.

He revealed that the district distributed nearly one million coffee seedlings last year and has already supplied about 200,000 seedlings during the first planting season this year.

"By the end of this year,we expect to distribute more than 1.5 million coffee seedlings,"Omara said.

Nyantonzi Sub-County Male Councilor Christopher Acidri applauded Gulu District for supporting progressive farmers and thanked Onono for hosting the Masindi delegation.

He encouraged the visiting leaders and farmers to apply the skills and best practices acquired during the study tour.

The Masindi District team visited Gulu as part of a learning exchange aimed at identifying successful farmers implementing the four acre model and generating high returns from commercial agriculture .