The Ministry of Finance is set to increase support for the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) to expand the production and multiplication of improved dairy heifers, piglets, goats and poultry for beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The planned support is expected to strengthen NAGRC&DB’s capacity to produce and distribute improved livestock breeds to small holder farmers as Government intensifies efforts to transform households from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
The initiative is part of NAGRC&DB’s priorities for the 2026/2027 financial year, which focus on increasing access to improved animal genetics, raising livestock productivity and expanding community-based breeding programmes.
The plans were discussed during a two-day strategic retreat held in Entebbe on August 6 and 7, where the NAGRC&DB Board of Directors and management reviewed priorities for the coming financial year.
The retreat was anchored on the National Animal Breeding Strategy and Action Plan, which seeks to commercialise animal breeding, improve livestock productivity and conserve Uganda’s indigenous genetic resources across the dairy, beef, goat, pig, poultry and fish value chains.
NAGRC&DB Board Chairperson Ben Anyama said increased investment in breeding and multiplication would enable the agency to make improved genetics more accessible to farmers.
“The National Animal Breeding Strategy is focusing on enhancing commercialization of breeding, boosting livestock productivity, and conserving indigenous genetic resources across dairy, beef, pigs, poultry, and fish value chains,” Anyama said.
He said the strategy would support the multiplication of high-yielding and climate-smart breeds while ensuring that farmers of different scales can access superior genetics.
“This is not just about increasing numbers; it is about ensuring that every farmer, regardless of scale, can access superior genetics,” Anyama added.
Finance support expected to boost PDM livestock supply
The increased support from the Ministry of Finance is expected to help NAGRC&DB expand its breeding infrastructure, improve animal multiplication and increase the supply of livestock to PDM beneficiaries.
The agency is targeting the production and distribution of improved dairy heifers, piglets, goats and poultry chicks, which are expected to provide PDM households with productive assets capable of generating regular income.
NAGRC&DB says it has already aligned its operations with PDM to reach farmers at the grassroots.
Through community-based animal breeding programmes, the agency is also strengthening technical support to small holder farmers in genetic selection, artificial insemination, disease control and animal husbandry.
The approach has already been implemented in areas such as the Busoga sub-region and cattle corridor, where farmers are being organised into breeding societies and trained in modern breeding practices.
Kasolwe to play a key role in livestock multiplication
The Kasolwe Stock Farm is expected to play a central role in the planned expansion of livestock production.
NAGRC&DB has invested in livestock breeding, animal feeds and forage production at the farm as part of its strategy to increase the availability of improved breeds.
The farm, which covers more than a square mile, has extensive areas dedicated to animal forage production, including grasses, hay, energy-rich maize and protein supplements.
Kasolwe has also become a centre for multiplication of improved breeds, including the Kasolwe Brown goat, developed through NAGRC&DB’s genetic improvement programmes.
According to Dr Katali Benda, NAGRC&DB programme officer for small ruminants, the Kasolwe Brown goat is drought-tolerant, fast-growing and relatively resistant to diseases commonly affecting goats.
He said females can weigh up to 65 kilogrammes at maturity, while males can reach up to 75 kilogrammes.
The goats can also produce multiple kids, with some capable of producing up to four kids a year, making them attractive to farmers seeking to expand their herds quickly.
More poultry and pigs for farmers
NAGRC&DB has also been multiplying improved poultry and pig breeds for distribution to farmers.
In the Busoga sub-region alone, the agency says it has distributed more than 500,000 improved Kuroiler chicks, 10,000 crossbred bulls, 5,000 pigs and 165 Kasolwe Brown goats.
The improved dual-purpose Kuroiler birds can produce between 150 and 200 eggs annually, compared with about 40 eggs from many indigenous chickens. They can also reach a market weight of approximately two to 3.5 kilogrammes within five months.
The planned increase in production is expected to enable more PDM beneficiaries to access improved poultry and piggery enterprises as income-generating activities.
NAGRC&DB has also intensified artificial insemination services. Over the past two years, more than 10,000 cattle in the Busoga sub-region have been inseminated, contributing to improvements in herd quality and milk production.
The agency currently produces and distributes improved semen and liquid nitrogen to farmers across the country.
Feed production to support expanded livestock numbers
NAGRC&DB is also investing in animal feed production to support the increasing number of improved animals expected to be distributed to farmers.
The agency says its heavy-duty feed production machinery at Kasolwe is producing compounded feeds for poultry, pigs and dairy cattle.
“We are backed by our heavy-duty feed production machinery at Kasolwe, which is producing compounded poultry, piggery, and dairy cattle feeds,” the institution said.
NAGRC&DB says community-based breeding programmes will also provide farmers with greater access to practical training in artificial insemination, disease control and genetic selection.
The agency says farmers will be able to access subsidised superior genetics capable of producing more milk, meat and eggs, thereby boosting household incomes.
Its emphasis on indigenous and climate-smart breeds is also intended to help farmers cope with changing climatic conditions while maintaining productivity.
Women and youth to benefit
The expanded livestock programme is also expected to create opportunities for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
NAGRC&DB says improved access to livestock breeds, technical training and breeding services will help previously underserved groups participate in commercial livestock production and strengthen household incomes.
The livestock sector remains a major component of Uganda’s agricultural economy.
Recent Uganda Bureau of Statistics data cited during the retreat indicate that livestock supports about 71 per cent of Ugandan households and contributes approximately 4.5 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Within agriculture, livestock accounts for about 17 per cent of agricultural GDP, with dairy alone contributing an estimated 40 to 50 per cent of livestock’s contribution.
Shs56.96 billion breeding infrastructure investment
The proposed increase in support comes amid growing Government investment in Uganda’s animal genetic resources sector.
In March 2026, Parliament endorsed a Shs56.96 billion investment in livestock breeding infrastructure, including the Bukedea and Serere breeding centres, under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
The investment is expected to support mass multiplication of improved breeds, restocking programmes and community-based breeding initiatives.
For NAGRC&DB, the strategy is to combine Government financing with improved genetics, breeding infrastructure, farmer training, animal feeds and community-based breeding to increase livestock productivity.
The planned increase in financial support is therefore expected to strengthen NAGRC&DB’s ability to produce PDM dairy heifers, piglets, goats and poultry chicks in larger numbers and make them available to more rural households.
The initiative is ultimately aimed at turning livestock into productive household assets while advancing Government’s broader agenda of increasing household incomes, improving food security and accelerating the transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
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