By Paul Kiwuuwa
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has endorsed the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with local growers of Hass avocado, focusing on the development of the value chain.
A value chain encompasses the entire life cycle of a product or process, including the management of Hass avocado seedlings, tree care, soil research, irrigation, storage and marketing. NARO has delegated a team of scientists, led by Dr John Adriko, the director of research at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), to implement the MOU.
The MOU, signed in July between NARO and Curated Holdings International Limited (CHIL), a Ugandan company that manages a Hass avocado orchard as well as processes and exports fresh Hass avocados, places emphasis on value chain development to promote market for the crop.
The MOU was signed by Dr Blessings Mukasa Bakali, the chief executive officer of CHIL and witnessed by senior presidential advisor Vincent Sempijja and workers MP Dr Abdul Byakatonda at NARO headquarters in Entebbe.
Dr Yona Baguma, the director general of NARO, signed on behalf of NARO, while Andrew Fred Mitala witnessed on behalf of NARO Holdings Limited, the business arm of NARO.
The orchard is located in Kyabatanza village, Kamira town council in Luwero district.
It covers 106 acres of land, with over 16,000 Hass avocado trees. CHIL also manages over 500,000 Hass avocado nursery seedlings.
During a tour of the orchard last Friday, Adriko said: “The partnership will promote modern, sustainable, environmentally friendly and profitable Hass avocado farming practices. This includes the establishment of high-quality, certified seedlings, training, skilling and capacity building for Hass avocado farmers in Luwero, Nwoya and Masaka districts.’’
He added: “The focus will be on modern climate-smart agricultural practices and facilitating access to sustainable markets.”
Adriko said the partnership will also facilitate market studies, high-yield and quality fruit production, soil research and fertility management.
It will also promote pest and disease control, irrigation, storage facilities and the management and distribution of Hass avocado seedlings, as well as advise on international markets for “Green Gold”.
NARO will provide capacity-building support for CHIL staff and Hass avocado farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices, waste management, establishing and managing Hass avocado nurseries, planting and promoting good farming practices. Adriko was accompanied by Dr Juventine Boaz, the scientifi c research officer at NaFORRI and Nelson Olwit Otim, the senior partnerships officer at NARO.
The delegation carried out an assessment of the orchard’s management, identifying challenges and offering advice on how to improve the orchard’s operations for greater productivity and profitability.
Mukasa speaks on future orchard plans
“We have paid a commitment fee to the Luwero district water board to pave the way for mechanised irrigation of the orchard,” said Mukasa.
“Currently, we are irrigating the orchard using plastic water pipes connected to a solar-powered engine that supplies water. CHIL will install an automatic watering system to deliver controlled irrigation directly to the roots. We have already established the water dams and automating the system will make the process more effi cient.”
Mukasa added that CHIL will procure small tractors to improve labour efficiency. The company is also planning to establish a cold chain to preserve the Hass avocado fruits, as they have a short shelf life.
“When fully implemented, this project will cover 100,000 acres and include 16 million trees. It will strengthen Uganda’s resilience and adaptability to climate change and improve the incomes of beneficiary households through a guaranteed market for all their produce.”
CHIL plans to work with 200,000 household farmers from four regions — central, east, west and north — and support them in cultivating at least half an acre (80 trees) of Hass avocado. This will help scale up production to reach the target of 16 million trees in five years.
Mukasa said CHIL would collaborate with other development partners to provide subsidised seedlings at an affordable price of sh1,000 per seedling.
Farmers who cannot afford to buy pesticides will be able to enter into MOUs with CHIL to repay once production begins.
About the orchard
The orchard, which employs over 70 workers, including a manager, nursery grafting supervisors, guards and casual labourers, is enclosed by a chain[1]link fence and has water dams connected to a solar-powered engine for irrigation. It is also fi tted with security lights to enhance safety.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Workers of CHIL grafting Hass avocado seedlings.
