Agro-Design Workshop
May, 2022
Through our partners Impact Designs – Denmark, Bobo Eco Farm has received a generous financial gift from The One Life Foundation to establish a workshop that will design and produce machines aimed at improving the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers through agro-processing (value addition) and also reduce drudgery in agricultural production.
Reducing drudgery is especially important in alleviating the strain on women who are the main actors in smallholder agricultural production, and may also attract the young generation into farming.
We welcome partnerships, and internships especially for post-graduate Engineering students to participate in designing machines and tools that respond to the needs of farmers and society in general.
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence”. Martin Luther King Jr.
March 2021 highlights
It looks like a market day – these farmers in Kyaka II refugee settlement are harvesting their BSF larvae – very heartening!
Black Soldier Fly larvae and mealworm production in a refugee setting: our work in pictures during 2020
Participants being taken through the different BSFL products and by-products during a training in BSFL production. Below: MAMAH & Bobo Eco Farm joined hands to train the leaders of the farmer groups in governance and group dynamics. Training took place at Bukere in Kyaka II refugee settlement
NEW GRANT TO EXPAND ACTIVITIES IN KYAKA II REFUGEE SETTLEMENT
June, 2020
We’re more than thrilled to be the recipient of another grant to expand our work in Kyaka II refugee settlement. We will be able to train and provide kits to another 200 farmer households (about 1000 beneficiaries) to produce the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly as a source of income and another 200 farmer households (about 1000 beneficiaries) to produce the yellow mealworm as a source of protein for their families. This project is possible thanks to the generosity of the Novo Nordisk Foundation coordinated through Impact Designs!
MOPAO
With the expanded activities the team is also expanding – one notable addition to the team is Mopao, a refugee from Congo! And who knows? He might just rise from survival to thriving!
Are smallholder farmers able to weather the COVID-19 storm?
May, 2020
Certainly, farmers are paying a huge price for the COVID crisis! A lot has changed, and, in quick successions for the smallholder farmers in the past few months. Unfortunately, these farmers have limited capabilities to rapidly make adjustments to adapt to these changes.
With the COVID containment measures; farmers already face challenges accessing markets to sell their produce or buy critical inputs; prices have crushed for food stuffs in villages yet the towns struggle with higher food prices – due to logistical problems.
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Supporting refugee and host community farmers to generate income through BSFL production
May, 2020
65 farmers representing 10 farmers’ associations in Kyaka II refugee settlement and from their host communities in Kyegegwa district on a familiarization tour at
Bobo Eco Farm. They are being trained and equipped with kits to produce the larvae of the black soldier fly for animal feeds. This is a partnership project by Bobo
Eco Farm, the Danish non-profit Impact Designs and Ugandan NGO MAMAH – with financial support from DANIDA through the CISU, and The One Life Foundation.
February 2020
Bobo Eco Farm and MAMAH teams after making a presentation to Kyegegwa district leadership on the new project aimed to strengthen the ability of schools and farmers’ associations in and around the Kyaka II refugee settlement to improve nutrition and incomes through production of edible insects.
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Partners’ meeting held in February at Bobo Eco Farm
March 2020
Project Inception meeting with Kyegegwa district
February 2020
Bobo Eco Farm and MAMAH teams after making a presentation to Kyegegwa district leadership on the new project aimed to strengthen the ability of schools and farmers’ associations in and around the Kyaka II refugee settlement to improve nutrition and incomes through production of edible insects.
Technical support mission to Bobo Eco Farm staff
February 2020
Bobo Eco Farm team trained in improved mealworm production techniques by Heimadol Entofarms based in Denmark; many thanks to Dorte for the self-less sharing, and to Impact Designs for coordinating this activity. This training was possible with financial support from DANIDA.
Insect farming at Bobo Eco Farm: our story
February 2020
Thank you to all our partners for enabling us to tell our story in this short video:
Special mention to Impact Designs, and Jeppe Schjødt; may the Lord bless!
Link to the video: https://vimeo.com/398178295
Pilot production of yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) to improve nutrition in refugee settlements
July, 2019
Bobo Eco Farm is working on a project to pilot production of Tenebrio molitor among refugees and host communities in Western Uganda. The project is a partnership between Bobo Eco Farm, the Danish non-profit Impact Designs, the Danish Refugee Council (a leading humanitarian international NGO), and the Ugandan NGOs Yiya Solutions and Mothers Against Malnutrition and Hunger (MAMAH). The project aims to provide the much needed access to nutrition and income for both refugees and host communities in the face of the huge influx of refugees into Uganda and the insufficient food assistance.
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Master of Development Studies students on a study tour at Bobo Eco Farm
July, 2019
It was such a huge blessing this month for us to host students from the Institute of Ethics and Development Studies, Uganda Martyrs University in the final year of their Master’s degree in Development Studies.
The Head of Department Sr. Namutebi explained that her students wanted a field exposure to explore issues related to the ethics of the environment and sustainable development. It was such an interesting team – we learnt a lot from each other!
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TRAINING OF UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY IN BSFL PRODUCTION KICKS OFF
April, 2019
Bobo Eco Farm has kicked off the training of trainers for the Faculty of Agriculture – Uganda Martyrs University in the production of the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) as an alternative source of animal feed.
The farming of edible insects is an alternative strategy for the production of protein-rich food/feed with a low ecological footprint. The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly rank among the most effective insects used for large-scale conversion of bio-waste into animal protein.
The official opening of the training was graced by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Maviiri who lauded the BSFL technology as moving within the framework of the SDGs.
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BOBO ECO FARM SIGNS COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY
The collaboration agreement signed this morning between Bobo Eco Farm and Uganda Martyrs University will enable Bobo Eco Farm train the Faculty of Agriculture – Uganda Martyrs University in the breeding/rearing of the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly in captivity as an alternative livestock feed.
The collaboration agreement signed this morning between Bobo Eco Farm and Uganda Martyrs University will enable Bobo Eco Farm train the Faculty of Agriculture – Uganda Martyrs University in the breeding/rearing of the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly in captivity as an alternative livestock feed.Under the same agreement, Bobo Eco Farm will also set up a BSFL breeding/rearing demonstration at the University. This project is funded by the Government of Uganda/World Bank (GOU/WB) through the Skills Development Facility (SDF) implemented by Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The project aim is to support Uganda Martyrs University to establish a short training course for students, extension agents and farmers in the production of the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (BSFL) as a livestock feed resource.
The farming of edible insects is an alternative strategy for the production of protein-rich food/feed with a low ecological footprint. The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly rank among the most effective insects used for large-scale conversion of bio-waste into animal protein.
Controlling predators in your BSFL breeding colony
Our experiences at Bobo Eco Farm
Edward Ssebbombo
Our work at Bobo Eco Farm has benefited a lot from other people who have generously shared knowledge / resources with us; we intend to do likewise through sharing experiences, views, and lessons learnt. Today we would like to share our experiences fighting predators in our BSFL breeding unit.
We raised our first successful BSF colony at the veranda of our apartment in Kampala. Actually the BSF breeding unit was kept at the veranda while the larvae rearing unit was stationed in one corner of the dining room! The idea was to develop & test a BSFL rearing unit that could be adopted by people in urban centres with limited spaces. We had noticed two opportunities in Kampala; foremost, Kampala Capital City Authority collects over 32,000 tons of garbage per month (only 40% of the total amount of waste generated in the city)! Secondly, the Kampala City Council Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2000 states that the party that generates garbage is responsible for its final disposal. Read More
Bobo Eco Farm collaborates on the World Bank funded INSEFOODS
The World Bank funded Africa Centre of Excellence in Sustainable use of Insects as Food and Feeds (INSEFOODS) based at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) was launched in Kisumu, Kenya on 5th – 6th October 2017.
The World Bank funded Africa Centre of Excellence in Sustainable use of Insects as Food and Feeds (INSEFOODS) based at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) was launched in Kisumu, Kenya on 5th – 6th October 2017.Bobo Eco Farm is privileged to be a collaborating partner on this project whose purpose is to address the challenges of sustainable food security using insects as human food and animal feed. For further information visit www.jooust.ac.ke/insefoods.
In the picture; Edward Ssebbombo, Bobo Eco Farm MD with Prof. Monica Ayieko (middle) – The PI & Deputy Director INSEFOODS, and Joel Wambua (right) during the launch of the INSEFOODS at The Swiss Grand Royal Hotel in Kisumu
When Crickets Cured Wet-dreams, and Rats Gave Money
Edward Ssebbombo – Bobo Eco Farm.
November 2016 was a very busy month as I conducted several meetings in communities near and far away from my base – gathering views on human interaction with insects during the ancient times in our part of the world. The information gathered was to help me as I thought through the strategy to promote the integration of insect rearing in smallholder farmer systems for food and feed security. As the older men and women recounted their stories, my childhood memories flashed back.
November 2016 was a very busy month as I conducted several meetings in communities near and far away from my base – gathering views on human interaction with insects during the ancient times in our part of the world. The information gathered was to help me as I thought through the strategy to promote the integration of insect rearing in smallholder farmer systems for food and feed security. As the older men and women recounted their stories, my childhood memories flashed back.Agriculture needs innovators: Reflections on Our Journey as Innovators at Bobo Eco Farm
Edward Ssebbombo
Bobo Eco Farm, Mityana, Uganda
September, 2016
Why share our story?
I believe a good number of people are ignorant of their potential as well as their responsibilities to their communities. Sadly, our environment doesn’t encourage us to discover ourselves as leaders, and the context within which we’re called to lead. We’re often lost in the busy-ness of shaping a career and managing the issues of day to day life that we forget to reflect on the very important things which can change our lives and those of the people around us. The purpose of sharing our story is to encourage somebody out there to jump off the band wagon and pursue a worthwhile goal for your community.
Why sharing our story?… Read More
Field testing a solar incubator for poultry farmers
Under the auspices of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, Bobo Eco Farm has been field-testing a solar incubator developed by a Ugandan innovator Mr. Kalibbala. The incubator is mainly intended to help rural farmers transit to semi-commercial poultry production. It is a two-pronged test; first to ascertain its technical efficacy in the field, and to get feedback from farmers about the equipment – price proposals, capacity proposals, and any other functional features farmers would want to see so as to feed into the final design.
On September 7th 2016, Bobo Eco Farm, Mr. Kalibbala, and poultry farmer representatives in the community held their first round of feedback meetings hosted at Bobo Eco Farm. Below is the event in pictures.
Farmers giving feedback on the solar incubator
Farmers examining the eggs that came out un hatched
Create innovation centres to support sustainable agricultural intensification among smallholder farmers
By Edward Ssebbombo
Bobo Eco Farm, Mityana, Uganda
Over 72% of Uganda’s population of 38.8 million (World Bank, 2012/13) are smallholder farmers, majority being subsistence farmers who produce primarily for own consumption. They farm small pieces of land usually less than 5 acres, depend on nature for agricultural production, and use rudimentary tools & techniques. Small scale piggery and poultry production form a key source of their financial security, but are characterized by low output per animal and unit area, slow growth rates and small sized mature animals. Women heads of households constitute a significant percentage of smallholder farmers (30%) while youths 15 – 24 years of age comprise 21.2% (Uganda National Household Survey Report, 2009/2010). Read More
Tree planting at Bobo Eco farm
During 2014, Bobo Eco Farm took lead to show community how we can improve on our environment by taking simple steps such as tree planting. The Farm planted a total of 363 gravellier around the perimeter fence of the farm and 24 casuarinas around the Farm offices. Again, the Farm donated some trees to the neighbours to plant along their boundaries. Leading by example!
This is going to be an annual activity where Bobo Eco Farm will give tree seedlings to community members and encourage them to plant them along their boundaries to help in preserving the environment
Bobo Eco Farm hosts MAMAH/MOH partnership at the mushroom growing facility
The mushroom growing facility at Bobo Eco Farm hosts trainings in mushroom growing for People Living with HIV/AIDS. MAMAH – a women led CBO has partnered with the Natural Chemotherapeutic Research Institute – Ministry of Health to study the efficacy of the Oyster mushroom in controlling opportunistic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS. The trainings are hosted at Bobo Eco Farm mushroom growing facility. Follow this link for further information http://www.mamah.org.ug/mamah-mohpartnership