Pearl of Africa Farm (POAF) is an integrated agricultural, educational and leisure farm located on about 35 acres piece of land in Katubwe – Banda Wakiso District about 8 km from Wakiso Town and 7 km off Hoima Road.
The farm is also 25 km from Kampala on Hoima Road. The farm has a permanent stream running through it that provides water for irrigation and other purposes.
The farm was started in mid 1990s by John Muhaise-Bikalemesa with the aim of providing a platform to share knowledge and experience relating to integrated farming under sustainable environment.
John provides strategic and thought leadership direction to the farm. The farm has also enabled him to put into practice the knowledge he has acquired over time.
Farming activities
The farming activities include the following among others;
| Activity | Status | |
|---|---|---|
| a) | Crocodile farming | Ponds already dug |
| b) | Apiary | Over 150 beehives already colonized |
| c) | Fish farming | Artistic fish ponds already dug stocked with 20,000 tilapia and 2,000 catfish. The ponds have stocking capacity of over 100,000 fish. |
| d) | Urban farming | Planting of crops in progress |
| e) | Forest Walk | Forest planted and routes identified |
| f) | Mushroom farming | About 500 gardens are in production |
| g) | Leisure gardens | A number are ready and some in progress |
| h) | Herbal plants | The farm has over 150 herbal plants |
Key challenges
Overtime the farm has faced the following key challenges;
- Lack of effective demand at the farm gate;
- Inadequate rainfall;
- Lack of proper seeds;
- Lack of agricultural extension services;
- Lack of effective crop drugs;
- Shortage of trained and experienced labor;
- Theft of crops;
- Low prices of farm produce in wholesale markets;
- Lack of affordable appropriate technology for value addition and
- Limited capital
Wetland Information
The farm has created a wet land that stays wet throughout year. This is in addition to the water in the fish bonds that covers about 4 acres of land.
Forest Cover
The farm has over 20 acres of forest cover.