Retired soldier discovers new passion in farming

When he called it quits from the army in 2006, Alex Ndekezi’s mind was focused on fighting another war; ensuring financial stability. However, retired Staff Sergeant Ndekezi was not sure of the kind of weapon he would use to win the battle against this enemy. The resident of Kanombe sector in Kicukiro district first ventured into business, selling animal and poultry feeds in Nyabugogo, Kigali. New callingNdekezi said that after establishing himself as business man, he started networking with people from Uganda who were involved in farming and animal feeds production. He said that after attending training workshops on improved agriculture conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, he developed an interest in farming.“I started with local breeds of cattle, but they weren’t giving me enough milk, yet I was spending a lot of money on them. Later, I bought two hectares of land in Muyumbu sector Rwamagana district Eastern Province, where I planted grass as I wanted to acquire exotic dairy cattle,” he said. He was also lucky that the land had enough running water for his cows.He added that he planned the enterprise to cater for both subsistence and commercial purposes. “When the grass matured, I sold all the local breed cattle and bought two Friesians worth Rwf2.4m. “My main focus was to get enough milk for the family and for sale since I wanted to expand my farming business,” he said. Lessons, benefits“In the seven years I have been involved in farming, I have discovered that most farmers don’t get enough milk from their cows because of poor management and poor feeding,” Ndekezi noted.“If you don’t feed your cow well or care for it properly, it produces little milk,” he said.He said he has amassed a lot of knowledge in farming because of the regular training workshops he attends, which he is using to manage his enterprises and to help his neighbours. Ndekezi, who has six Friesians now, said farming is the best thing that could have happened to him.And he has good reasons: he gets 60 litres of milk from his cows every day. He said he sells some of the milk to residents of Kicukiro and Rwamagana districts and restaurants in Kigali.“I save over Rwf300,000 every month after paying for all the expenses,” he saidNdekezi has also diversfied into goat rearing, and has over 30 Boer goats and 10 crossbreed cattle in Ndego sector in Kayonza district where he bought 10 hectares of land using savings from the dairy cattle enterprise. He said that his neighbours in Ndego have also been inspired to start rearing Boer goats after realising that farming was a profitable venture. Challenges Ndekezi said the main problem he faces is the low price of milk compared to high cost animal feeds. Since his farm is not in town, he spends a lot of money on transport looking for buyers. “If I can get clients to buy the milk directly from the farm, it would save me a lot of cash,” he said.He, however, said these problems will not discourage him from farming “as it is a super highway to prosperity”. Advice to other farmers Ndekezi emphasises quality over quantity. “It’s better to keep one cow that gives you over 12 litres per milking than rearing many cows that produce so little,” he advises. He also urges farmers to feed their cattle with quality feeds if they them to produce enough milk. “If you don’t feed and care for your cows, you won’t benefit,” he noted.“Farmers should love their animals, care and ensure sanitation to prevent them from catching diseases that kill them,” he added.They say that knowledge is power, and it is for this reason that Ndekezi advises farmers to attend training workshops that are usually conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as visit model farmers and learn from them to improve their farming business.He added that one should not depend on only one farming activity. “People should rear other animals like rabbits, poultry and goats and grow crops. These are easy to manage and have a ready market.”He called on the government to help people to get loans to buy high breed cows.Future planNdekezi plans to start rearing goats for both milk and meat, set up a poultry unit “since I have enough land and skills to practice farming”. The enterprising former soldier has bought a piece pf land in Gasabo district, where he wants to set up a hotel targeting tourists.“I also want to start fish farming since part of my land has enough water,” he said.People he looks up to “I have been inspired by many people, especially successful farmers in Rwanda. However, I am working very hard to be like Dr. Ephraim Kabaija, or even be better than him. Dr. Kabaija has good and well-managed Friesian cows. I want to be like him… I know I will make it,” he noted.