By Ben Musanje
21st July 2023
The Government, through the National Agriculture Advisory Service (NAADS) has partnered with at least eight large-scale farmers to promote the cultivation of high-value crops, specifically Hass Avocado and Macadamia.
According to Khadija Nakakande the Head of Communication and Public Relations at NAADS, the partnership entails various measures to support farmers and enhance the overall production to ensure a robust foundation for successful cultivation.
She noted that Farmers who opt to participate in the program contribute 30% of the seedling’s cost, while the government covers the remaining 70%, in alignment with its strategy of sharing costs with beneficiary farmers.
She says that the support extended to Hass avocado farmers since 2018 has seen the establishment of over 100,000 orchards across the country with an estimated minimum production of 344,832 metric tons of Hass Avocado over the next five years.
She says the interventions are expected to drive the growth of the high-value crop sector in Uganda contributing to increased food security, higher income levels, enhanced employment opportunities, and climate change mitigation while potentially boosting the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
She made these remarks during a media tour to Macadamia and Hass Avocado growers in the districts of Fort Portal, Kitagwenda, Mityana and Mayuge.
The Value chain includes the provision of quality planting materials to willing and interested out-growers in a cost-sharing arrangement and provision of extension, services.
The strategic intervention for promoting Hass avocado and macadamia is being implemented through the Nucleus Farmer Partnership strategy.
Raymond Muhwezi, the Manager of Royal Plants and Nurseries Limited that is located at Ngezi, Kyenjojo district in Western Uganda, says they started growing macadamia nuts as business after doing a research on the market and with the support of NAADS, they have been able to register over 500 farmers operating under them and districted over 120000 seedlings which has increased production.
Hesbon Cheruiyot, the Operations Manager of Musubi Farm in Musubi Village, Bukapoli Sub county, Mayuge district in Busoga Subregion noted that their farm in which they grow Hass avocado seats on about 11200 acres of land and they have been able to open up a processing factory in Mabira forest at Nakyimbi where they process cooking oil, hair product for women among others.
Cashew nut is one of the emerging commodities prioritized in the third National Development Plan (NDPIII) under the Agro-Industrialization Programme Implementation Plan (AGI), FY2020/21 – 2024/25.
END
Next:
Previous:
