# Azofarm Ug: Sustainable Azolla Farming, Circular Feed & Habitat Conservation Across Uganda

> Azofarm Ug is a Ugandan agricultural and conservation enterprise founded by veterinary doctor Dr. Steven Kizza. The project is dedicated to Azolla farming, low-cost circular livestock feed solutions, and biodiversity conservation across Uganda.

## Core Mission & The Miracle Fern

Azolla is a fast-growing aquatic fern cultivated in small spaces using simple water-based systems, including cups, basins, raised beds, and silpaulin-lined earthen ponds. It establishes rapidly and provides a readily available, high-protein source of livestock feed throughout the entire year.

At Azofarm Ug, we grow Azolla, supply certified pure starter mother cultures, and train farmers to cultivate and use Azolla as a practical livestock-feeding skill. Farmers receive hands-on training, demonstrations, and practical guidance on cultivation, harvesting, and feed rationing.

Azolla is highly palatable and can be incorporated into the diets of many domestic animals—including poultry (layers, broilers, kienyeji), pigs, dairy cattle, goats, sheep, rabbits, and fish. It provides 25–30% crude protein, essential vitamins, and minerals, helping farmers cut commercial feed costs by **over 30%** when appropriately incorporated into daily feeding systems.

## Conservation & Circular Economy

By providing an affordable and accessible feed alternative, Azolla supports **zero-grazing** and improved livestock management:
1. **Zero Forest Trespass**: Reduces the need to graze cattle and goats inside protected national parks (such as Bwindi Impenetrable or Queen Elizabeth) or forest reserves (such as Budongo) for pasture during dry spells.
2. **One Health & Biosecurity**: Eliminates direct contact between domestic stock and wild fauna (such as endangered mountain gorillas and primates), halting cross-species parasite and pathogen transmission.
3. **Circular Biofertilizer**: Animal manure enriches the pond substrate, the fern feeds the livestock, and nutrient-rich pond effluent serves as organic biofertilizer for household crops.

## Our Core Azolla Activities

1. **Farmer training and practical demonstrations**: Community workshops on cultivation physics, pond hygiene, and nutrition.
2. **Establishment of Azolla growing units**: Custom design and excavation of basin, wooden frame, and silpaulin-lined earthen ponds.
3. **Hands-on cultivation and harvesting training**: Daily skimming techniques, yield optimization, and shade management.
4. **Feed preparation and rationing**: Fresh washing, air wilting, solar drying, and leaf-meal milling.
5. **Training on integrating Azolla into livestock diets**: Species-specific inclusion rates (e.g. 15-20% for poultry, 20-30% for pigs, 2 kg/day for dairy cows) and a 10-day gradual acclimation schedule.
6. **Pure starter culture supply & technical support**: Certified pest-free starter mother cultures dispatched nationwide across Uganda.

## Team

- **Dr. Steven Kizza**: Founder & CEO. Veterinarian with 5 years of experience in Azolla feed production; supports 1,000+ farmers with affordable feed and has trained 100+ small-scale livestock farmers.
- **Misagga Andrew**: Co-Founder & Production Manager. 4+ years in animal nutrition and feed formulation; leads production, quality control and technical operations.
- **Judith Nanyunja**: Marketing Lead. 4+ years in sales and business expansion; customer acquisition and market strategy.
- **Tukamuhebwa Racheal**: Project Coordinator & Mobiliser. 6+ years as an extension worker; mobilises community engagement.

## Contact & Operations

- **Official Website**: https://azofarmug.com
- **Official Email**: info@azofarmug.com
- **WhatsApp / Phone**: +256 752 518 402 (https://wa.me/256752518402)
- **Headquarters & Field Hubs**: Kampala & Western Uganda Demonstration Hubs, Uganda