Laboratory assistant embrace pig farming in attempt to curb down poverty in Lira District

Lira District

When approaching Ezekiel Okello’s gate, guests wrinkle their noses.

Once inside the gate, it’s easy to spot Okello in the pig pen, shovel in hand, clad in his trademark red, and plastic boots.

Okello is Ogur’s first successful pig farmer. His swine population has swelled, now numbering 6 pigs and 17 piglets.

“I started with two pigs in February 2022, and that was no easy task because pigs are among the most difficult animals to care for,” he says. “But I wasn’t put off, and the result is that today I have more than 5 pigs.”

Okello says they are notoriously difficult to raise because they eat so much. He coordinates with restaurants in Ogur Town Council to provide his pigs leftover food scraps. He says he works hard to keep his pigs healthy.

Livestock farming is not a popular trade in Ogur Sub County, Lira District. People here rely on hunting bush meat in the forest and surrounding areas.

Socioeconomic studies show that most households here are heavily dependent on crop farming, which account for up to 80 percent of their income.

Throughout Ogur Sub County, residents say they are grateful for Okello’s perseverance in pig farming for the good of the whole community.

“Okello has aroused my fascination with her undiminished efforts to carry out his farming activities,” says Allan Etor, Okello’s friend. “He is ensuring the cleanliness of pig meat.”

Okello says he is happy to see other friends whom he completed certificate with from Lira Institute of Health and Management Science embrace pig farming as a career, which he says is contributing to the development of the region.

He has so far sold approximately sixteen piglets in the last two months each at 100,000/= and has earned him 1,600,000/=

Okello is using the profits from the busy season to expand his farm and meet customer demand.

“With my thriving farming activities, I plan to extend my pig house because the number of pigs has grown substantially. I won’t have trouble affording to extend the house, and my vision now is to increase the number of my employees who help me with farming activities,” Okello says.

Ezekiel Okello, a laboratory assistant, hails from Ogur Sub County in Lira District.