A Report of Field Attachment Two Conducted at URDT Demonstration Farm From 5th June -4th July 2025

Abstract

The field attachment, conducted from 5th June 2024 to 4th July 2025, at the Uganda Rural Development and Training (URDT) demonstration farm, aimed to develop practical skills in assessing local farm needs, learn and apply sustainable livestock management practices, and learn and apply sustainable crop agronomic techniques. The apprentice worked closely with the farm manager, farm workers, Epicenter Manager, and community members, utilizing methods such as the visionary approach and Participatory Action Research (PAR) to foster collaborative learning and community involvement. Key activities aligned with objectives 1, 2, and 3 included revisiting the farm vision, mixing poultry feed, and composting biomass among others. Observations indicated that the farm lacked essential livestock management structures like a cattle dip, and that the diversity of animals could be improved by adding goats to enhance skills such as castration, dehorning, and hoofing. The location of poultry houses near the administration block caused discomfort due to odor. It is recommended that URDT farms address these issues by constructing additional farm structures, relocating the poultry houses and logbooks should be provided by the University at the time of deployment.