In 2011, Joseph Ijala, a former taxi operator in Soroti town but a resident of Kakusi village, Serere Town Council, in Serere District, listened to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s wealth creation messages and decided to put it to practice.
Ijala, who lost his job when he secretly left duty to attend President Museveni’s wealth creation rally in Soroti town in 2011, is now among the few Ugandans who have successfully become rich after practically implementing the four-acre model farming strategies.
Within his two acres of land, Ijala now rares a total of 87 dairy cows that give him over 300 liters of milk daily, and about 10,000 layers that give him over 360 trays of eggs a day in addition to manufacturing soap.
On Monday, November 18th, 2024, Ijala explained to President Museveni how he started Teso Integrated Farm with only 35 local birds in 2011 after he had been dismissed from work for escaping to go and attend his wealth creation rally.
President Museveni is currently on a tour of Teso sub region to assess the implementation of Parish Development Model program and wealth Creation activities.
Ijala informed President Museveni on how he makes about Shs600 million yearly from all the four enterprises, employs about 38 workers and also using the same farm to freely train prospective farmers.
At his dairy farm, Ijala has one cow named Apio (a Luo name) that gives him over 25 liters of milk a day, making it the most favorite cow.
Ijala now strives to start producing about 1,000 liters of milk a day and intends to acquire value addition machines to enable him to start processing his milk into various products on a large scale.
According to Ijala, he has already secured some 35 acres of land where he will use it to graze his cows by next year.
Like every venture, Ijala says he struggled with a loan when he first started the farm and appealed to others to remain determined and must have personal interest before starting any farming activities.
President Museveni Museveni toured Ijala’s farm on Monday, November 18th, 2024, and thanked him for embracing the four-acre model farming strategy.
Museveni donated to Ijala Yoghurt processing machine to enable him to expand the product of dairy products in addition to giving him Shs10 million cash.
During the tour, President Museveni was accompanied by key leaders from the Teso region, including the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, who noted that successful agriculture requires critical determination and sacrifice, noting that farming is not for weak people.
“To achieve in agriculture, you must accept being dirty and make your money. You must embrace mindset among young people,” Speaker Among said.
Others were Hellen Adoa, the Minister of State for Fisheries, who encouraged young people to venture into farming instead of struggling for petty jobs in Kampala.
The president also visited another progressive farmer in the Kapyelebyong District before heading to the Katakwi town council, where he toured another large model farm established by the vice president, Major (Rtd) Jessica Alupo.
