E’NSIGO DEMO FARM
Our Food Our Medicine
Background
Due to the lack of state funding in Uganda for arts and cultural education, the high competition and non-sustainability of foreign funds makes sustainable development very difficult for NGOs like Soul-Xpressions that run non-profit programs. E’nsigo is a mixed farm business venture established by Soul-Xpressions founders to provide financial support to its non-profit programs through generated profits.
Currently operating in the district of Mukono, E’nsigo specializes in piggery and poultry farming, supporting both full-time and part time employees and engaging additional labor as needed. The farm has contributed significantly to the local community by providing employment opportunities and contributing a portion of its profits to Soul-Xpressions’ programs. That’s to say; creative facilitation, teacher training, dance development and entrepreneurship where participants develop skills such as self-belief and confidence, critical thinking, creativity, effective communication, cooperation, dance performance, pedagogy, choreography and are then supported to transform their learned skills and talents into revenue/income sources for better livelihoods.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Income Generation
To establish and run a mixed farm business to generate revenue to support Soul-Xpressions’ nonprofit youth development programs
Economic Empowerment
To steer economic development through entrepreneurship training and creation of employment opportunities for rural youth
Collaboration
To network with local and international agencies, farms and organizations to build both technical and creative capacity in business.
STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES
Research
We rigorously invest energy and resources into research to keep updating our methods of farming to make sure that at the core of our farming operations, is a deep passion and commitment to preserving the natural biodiversity and producing food that’s healthy for human consumption. We are open to receive volunteers, researchers, farmers and investors to come study, teach, invest and contribute to our mission to re-establish the natural ways of growing food using natural and regenerative seeds. Encouraging the use of non-chemical pesticide tapping into the available diverse vegetation, use animal (piggery and poultry) waste for organic fertilizers and bio gas to meet our cooking needs and minimize over dependency on firewood/charcoal which is a threat to forestry.
Training
Our farm establishment is committed to training aspiring farmers in different technical aspects of farming and business management, financial management. Our target group are the rural based youth and women. We motivate and encourage youth to join farming as a means for poverty eradication, food security and economic empowerment. This is one way we are also contributing to mitigating rural-urban migration. One of the main challenges youth in the rural areas face is lack of access to information. Our training program will also ensure there is adequate access to literature, audio and visual information on farming, business, financial management
Production
Over the years, we have improved our breeds, nutrition, housing structures, water supply and management. Over 3000 pigs have been produced at our farm. We have bred over 2000 chicks with our poultry. We produce pigs for pork, for farmers restocking their farms, chicken, vegetables, crops (Matoke, cassava, corn, plantain, sweet potatoes, vanilla, etc.) and salads. We started with 1 full time staff, now we have 3 full time and 4 part time staff supporting our developments and supporting their families through the farm. We have inspired and supported over 30 new farmers in the village who are growing with us. Employed over 100 people through construction, transportation and sales of animal inputs and outputs.
CORE PRINCIPLES
Our mixed farm integrates traditional sustainable practices with modern techniques to deliver freshness, flavour, and nutrition straight from our fields to your table. With a commitment to environmental stewardship, animal welfare and decent working environment, we provide ethicallyraised meats and a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables, crops
Environmental Stewardship: At E’nsigo, we recognize the critical role of agriculture in preserving our planet’s health. Our commitment to environmentally safe guarding farming practices underscores our dedication to sustainable agriculture. By minimizing the use of harmful chemicals and prioritizing organic solutions, we aim to protect ecosystems and promote biodiversity.
Research and Innovation: Investment in research lies at the heart of our mission. We are dedicated to advancing agricultural technology to develop plant-based pesticides and organic/animal waste-based fertilizers. Through collaboration with experts in the field and fellow farmers, we strive to create solutions that optimize crop and human health while minimizing negative environmental impact.
Health and Wellness Focus: Central to our ethos is the belief that food should nourish both body and mind. By championing sustainable farming practices and organic solutions, we ensure that the food we produce is of the highest quality and free from harmful chemicals. Our commitment to holistic wellness extends beyond our products to encompass the wellbeing of consumers and the planet.
The Products
The mixed farm produces a number of plant and animal products, the main being breeding and raring quality and high-performance pigs and chicken for meat.
Piggery
Large white, this breed is very prolific with good mothering ability. Cambrough, which has considerably low fat compared to other breeds. Landrace, they produce big litters of piglets with good daily weight gain and high lean meat content ideal for pork and bacon.
Poultry
Sasso T451 chickens, they are duo purpose (meat and eggs) and very disease resistant, making them ideal for several environments in both rural and urban settings. Their weight gain at 18 weeks of 360% sets them apart from other low-cost production breeds.
Value Proposition
“At E’nsigo Demo Farm, we integrate traditional sustainable practices with modern techniques to deliver freshness, flavor, and nutrition straight from our fields to your table. With a commitment to environmental stewardship and animal welfare, we provide ethically-raised meats and a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables, crops. By supporting us, you’re not just investing in superior products, you’re contributing to a thriving ecosystem where community, healthy food and sustainability converge”
Project Milestones 2025
The implementation of these project components will enable E’nsigo Demo farm to increase its production capacity and realize its production goals. Improved infrastructure and operational upgrades will lead to efficiency in resource utilization, cut production costs and maximizing profits.
Installation of solar power and construction of a water well aligns with our environmental conservation efforts while reducing long-term operational costs. With increased financial stability, E’nsigo will contribute to Soul-Xpressions’ non-profit youth development programs, by paying staff salaries and materials, benefiting the community at large.
Construct a fresh water well to ensure reliable and sustainable water supply for farm operations, reducing dependency on external water sources that are costly in transport and unreliable.
Build a larger feed storage facility for a maximum capacity of 20 tones, to accommodate increased production needs and ensure proper storage conditions for food materials.
Install solar power infrastructure on the farm premises to reduce fuel (petrol) costs, automatize farm operations, and enhance production output capacity.
Construct two new fattening pens capable of holding up to 50 mature pigs each, optimizing space and increase out put capacity.
Train our staff in bio gas, natural pesticide, waste bi-products, Artificial insemination for pigs, financial management and computer literacy