ST KIZITO YOUTH FARM KYANKWANZI RANCH

BACKGROUND OF THE FARM.

The farm originated from the Young farmer’s Association (YFA) which was then set at St. Kizito Bethany Secondary School in Mityana District. This farm was started by Sr. M. Ludovico (RIP) with the objective of training youth in farming skills and enlarging it to become a source of income for the community.

As the farm developed, the need for a spacious place arose and the Land at Kyankwanzi was acquired on 1^st May 1987 with the help of Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga (RIP). It is for this reason that his name is mentioned almost whenever Kyankwanzi Ranch is spoken about. After the land acquisition, it was entrusted to St. Kizito as the Patron saint hence the change of the name from YFA to St. Kizito youth farm. This farm in Kyankwanzi was officially opened on 13^th June 1987 and the pioneers in the starting of the construction were; Sr. M. Petronilla Nakayima, Sr. M. Chrysostom Nambaziira , Sr. M. Godfrey Keitumba, and Sr. Maria Richard Nayiga. The ranch started with 50 cattle; 26 cows and 24 bulls. We greatly appreciate the Pioneer sisters on this farm for their willingness, sacrifices, and hard work.

LOCATION OF THE FARM

This ranch is found in Kasejjere village Butemba Sub- County in Kyankwanzi District. It is 90 miles from Kampala to Kyenda (Kampala – Hoima road)  and 22 miles from Kyenda to Kyankwazi farm ranch no.6. The entire farmland was about six square miles in the beginning but later on, the land was lost to squatters and then reduced to 5 square miles. On part of this land, we find a hospital and a school

In 2005, an Agricultural training program was put in place and the sisters at the ranch were taken to study modern agriculture for sustainable farming. After the study, Cabana's sustainable organic farm was established.

OTHER ACTIVITIES  TAKING PLACE ON THE FARM.

• We do ranching as the main project on the farm and currently, there are 800 cattle.
• We also do piggery and poultry. In poultry, we rare birds like chicken and ducks.

We also do subsistence Agriculture and this is done mainly on two acres of land.

THE CHALLENGES FACED.

• Seasonal cattle diseases that attach to the area, our farm is not spared either.
• Destruction of staff houses by the heavy rains.
• Destruction of the crops by wild animals.
• Long seasons of droughts or rains affect the land and the farm in general.
• Loss of part of the land to squatters.