By Caroline Nassuuna
Communications Officer
Accountants have obtained knowledge on practical modern and urban farming skills at the inaugural Experiential learning programme. The programme, which also acts as a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) event for accountants, was held on Friday, 22 November 2024, at Eikamiro Diary Farm and Musubi Farm in Gayaza.
Experiential learning is the process of hands-on learning by observation and interaction. The hands-
on experiences stimulate reflection and inspire the participants to explore opportunities. The lessons picked provide an opportunity for in-depth learning and motivation necessary for participants to explore productive sectors that can contribute to economic development.
While at Musubi Farm — Buntaba, Gayaza, participants were taught the fundamentals of Hass avocado farming. This highly profitable cash crop is widely demanded worldwide due to its high nutritional content.
While addressing the participants, Martins Nyakone, an agronomist and team leader at Musubi Farms, urged participants to explore and utilise the richness of Uganda’s climate by cultivating this lucrative crop and unlocking its value chain potential.
“To benefit from this crop, consider hiring professionals to take care of the work on the farm. This includes soil testing, climate surveys, spacing, weeds and pests control, and general crop care,” remarked Nyakone.
He highlighted some of the critical challenges in Hass avocado farming, including inefficiencies due to a lack of collaboration with professionals and brokers in the logistics chain who undervalue the produce, impacting profitability, and community misconceptions about farming, especially with "telephone farming" practices.
Participants were further taken through diary farming at Eikamiro Diary Farm, where they explored innovative urban cattle farming techniques.
CPA Jackline Ayorekire Keirungi, the proprietor of Eikamiro Diary Farm, explained the activities undertaken on the farm, including silage making, milking, extreme cow hygiene, and biogas making.
“There are several opportunities to explore on an urban farm. These include flexibility in managing a farm located within the city and nurturing children into farming while embracing technology, as well as the minimal effort required to oversee urban projects compared to those upcountry,” explained CPA Ayorekire, calling upon participants to explore this farming technique.
While speaking to some of the participants, they expressed gratitude to the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda for organising a unique venture that enabled them to gain insights into farming, value chains, processing, and trading for revenue diversification.
“I am so excited about the visit we have made to the farms today because I have gained vast knowledge about farming which I cannot wait to put into practice,” said CPA Abdul Mubiru.
There is hope that the lessons learned will spur the establishment of enterprises that will result in diverse income streams for accountants.
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