Lira pig cooperative in need of money for slaughterhouse

Oniangaber Pig Farmers Cooperative in Lira city have appealed to government and other stakeholders to help them build a modern slaughterhouse so that they are able to market their products better.

The cooperative, according to the chairperson, Sam Agoro has a total of 52 committed members with over 1,000 pigs.

The pig farmers, according to Agoro, also have to endure exploitation from middlemen and the high prices of feeds.

He said the pig farmers ventured into the project as a business to address poverty in the households of the members of the cooperative.

“We started in 2016 with the intention of solving problems that we, as farmers were facing and also to grow as a group. What we want right now is to build a slaughterhouse and a good market for the pork,” he said.

The cooperative has also opened outlets for animal feeds in Kicope Ward in Lira City East Division, serving farmers in Lango and Acholi sub-regions.

Agoro said the feeds for the pigs comprise mixtures of soybean cake, maize flour, sunflower, and cotton cake among others, which he says are of good quality.

He said to join the cooperative according to Agoro each member pays a share capital of Shs 30,000 and welfare of Shs 20,000.

“By the time the cooperative was formed, it had 30 members but now it is growing and we have hope that it will reach 100 members before the end of this year,” he said.

Caroline Awelo a salesperson of the cooperative’s feeds outlet, warned piggery farmers against purchasing feeds flooded in the market saying they are adulterated and likely to affect the production and fast maturing of the pigs.

“We were trained on how to formulate feeds, proper feedings, balancing diets, and identify the formula for good production,” she said.

Agoro who has 10 pigs said with the right formula for feeds, pigs can grow fast and be ready for slaughter in six months.

“We are the right people to work with and we want to urge the Government and development partners to come and support us,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/masaka-pig-farmers-cooperative-targets-increased-production/

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