IN THINGS! NAGRC&DB to set up regional Pig breeding centres, Poultry and Fish Hatcheries for PDM farmers

The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) is set to establish regional pig breeding centres, poultry hatcheries and fish hatcheries as part of efforts to increase the supply of improved livestock and fish genetics to beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

The planned regional facilities are expected to bring breeding services closer to farmers, increase the production of improved piglets and poultry chicks, and improve access to quality fish seed as Government seeks to transform smallholder farmers from subsistence producers into commercial farmers.

The initiative is part of NAGRC&DB’s plans for the 2026/2027 financial year, which focus on expanding access to improved animal genetics, increasing livestock productivity and strengthening community-based breeding programmes.

The plans were unveiled 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 the agency would intensify mass breeding and multiplication programmes to increase the availability of high-performing and climate-smart breeds 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 multiplication of high-yielding breeds while ensuring that improved genetics are accessible to farmers at different levels.
“This is not just about increasing numbers; it is about ensuring that every farmer, regardless of scale, can access superior genetics,” Anyama added.

Regional centres to support PDM livestock production
The planned regional pig breeding centres and poultry and fish hatcheries are expected to strengthen NAGRC&DB’s collaboration with the Parish Development Model by increasing the availability of productive farming assets to rural households.

The agency says regional production facilities will help decentralise breeding services and reduce the distance farmers have to travel to access improved piglets, poultry chicks and fish seed.

The facilities will also provide opportunities for farmers to access technical support in breeding, animal husbandry, disease control and genetic selection.

NAGRC&DB has already aligned its operations with PDM to reach last-mile farmers across the country.

Through community-based animal breeding programmes, the agency is organising farmers into breeding societies and providing training in modern breeding practices.
The approach has already been implemented in areas including the Busoga sub-region and cattle corridor.

Pig breeding centres to increase availability of improved piglets
The establishment of regional pig breeding centres is expected to increase the production and distribution of improved piglets to PDM beneficiaries and other small holder farmers.

The centres will support multiplication of high-performing pig breeds and provide farmers with access to breeding services and technical guidance.

NAGRC&DB has been multiplying improved pig breeds as part of its livestock genetic improvement programme.

In the Busoga sub-region alone, the agency says it has distributed 5,000 pigs, alongside more than 500,000 improved Kuroiler chicks, 10,000 crossbred bulls and 165 Kasolwe Brown goats.

The regional centres are expected to make it easier for farmers to establish and expand piggery enterprises while improving the quality of pigs available for breeding.

Poultry hatcheries to expand chick production
NAGRC&DB also plans to strengthen poultry hatchery capacity to increase the supply of improved chicks to farmers.

The agency has already distributed more than 500,000 improved Kuroiler chicks in the Busoga sub-region.

The improved dual-purpose Kuroiler birds can produce between 150 and 200 eggs annually, compared with about 40 eggs from many indigenous chickens, while reaching a market weight of approximately two to 3.5 kilogrammes within five months.

Regional poultry hatcheries are expected to increase chick production and make improved birds more readily available to PDM beneficiaries, women and youth engaged in poultry farming.

Fish hatcheries to support aquaculture
The planned regional fish hatcheries will form part of NAGRC&DB’s efforts to strengthen Uganda’s fish breeding and aquaculture value chain.

The National Animal Breeding Strategy covers the fish value chain alongside dairy, beef, goats, pigs and poultry.
Regional hatcheries are expected to improve farmers’ access to quality fish seed while providing technical support in fish breeding and production.

The decentralization of fish seed production is also expected to support communities that depend on aquaculture as an income-generating activity and contribute to increased fish production.

Kasolwe remains a key multiplication centre
At the Kasolwe Stock Farm, NAGRC&DB has invested in livestock breeding, animal feeds and forage production as part of its broader 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.
Breeding supported by feeds and training
NAGRC&DB is also investing in animal feed production to support increased livestock production.

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.

The agency says community-based breeding programmes will also give farmers greater access to practical training in artificial insemination, disease control and genetic selection.

NAGRC&DB has intensified artificial insemination services, with more than 10,000 cattle in the Busoga sub-region inseminated over the past two years.

The agency also produces and distributes improved semen and liquid nitrogen to farmers across the country.
Infrastructure investment
The expansion of regional breeding facilities comes amid increased Government investment in animal genetic resources.
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 improved genetics, regional breeding infrastructure, farmer training, animal feeds and community-based breeding to increase productivity.

The agency also plans to ensure that women, youth and persons with disabilities benefit from improved access to livestock and fish production opportunities.

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.

The planned establishment of regional pig breeding centres, poultry hatcheries and fish hatcheries is therefore expected to expand access to improved genetics and production inputs for PDM farmers.

NAGRC&DB says the initiative will ultimately help increase household incomes, improve food security and accelerate Uganda’s transition from subsistence to commercial livestock and aquaculture production.