By Joshua Kato
Government of Uganda has put in place fruit processing facilities to aid in value addition in the fruit subsector. An example of such factories is Yumbe Mango Processing factory which is a value addition initiative by the Government of Uganda through the NAADS Secretariat in partnership with Food and Nutrition Solutions Ltd (FONUS), Aringa Mango Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Uganda Development Corporation (UDC).
The project is a fulfillment of the H.E the President’s pledge to support Food and Nutrition Solutions Ltd (FONUS) (a company started by Makerere University Professors in Food Science) to complete the project. FONUS are the vision bearers of the value addition initiative.
According to MAAIF, The 6 metric ton per hour factory is designed based on the local mangoes grown in the West Nile region and a ready market for the farmers. The establishment of the factory is intended to put a stop to the exploitation of farmers by the middlemen who buy the mangoes cheaply. The factory is established in partnership with UDC under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) which has built the capacity of the farmers under their umbrella association Aringa Mango Farmers’ Cooperative Society.
Currently, 90% of the works have been completed with the processing equipment fully installed. The remaining works include construction of stores, the perimeter wall and the compound. Government has so far injected sh8.9 bn in the project.
