Uganda is one of the leading fruit producers in Africa, with production bolstered by abundant water supply from Lake Victoria and the Nile River, combined with a high altitude that moderates the tropical heat.
With choice improvements, Uganda may well export a larger and better portion of its country’s fruit in the near future. But out-of-reach standards for foreign markets, consumer preferences for legacy fruit varieties, and lack of investment in value-addition facilities are primary reasons why at present the majority of the product never makes it to market
At present though, Uganda does not export most of its production. Furthermore, according to Quresh Fidahusein, the founder of Ugandan fruit and vegetable exporter, Zahra Food Industries Ltd. (ZFI), 70% to 80% of Uganda’s fruit is wasted. This leads to a poor record in the export trade, and to a demoralized farming and export community.
Good Fruit In Many Sizes
Although the overall quality of Ugandan fruits is high, many Ugandan fruits fail to meet international quality standards because of their sizes. The produce often does not pass standard size classification tests because it tends to be too large. Unlike markets that rely on automation for fruit production, Ugandan farmers produce their fruit naturally and organically with minimal intervention. This makes it difficult to control and standardize fruit dimensions. For example, many Ugandan pineapples and papayas are over two kg each, whereas buyers prefer smaller-sized fruits.
However, as there is a growing global demand for organic and naturally grown fruit, Uganda can use its organic and natural production practices as a competitive edge in the global market. Many Ugandan farmers are striving to increase size uniformity by using different seeds and by using automated production processes. Furthermore, following increased awareness in Europe and the United States about the correlation between limited sizing standards and food waste, more importers are becoming interested in buying larger sized produce. All this indicates the time may be ripe for an uptick in Ugandan exports.
Diverse Varieties
Secondly, Ugandan fruits fail to make it to the international markets because many consumers have a strong preference for legacy fruit varieties. For example, most avocado importing countries only want the Hass avocado variety and do not consider other options. Most avocados produced in Uganda are not Hass varieties, but green skin varieties, and thus Ugandan avocados have difficulties entering the international market. However, since green skin avocados tend to be firmer in texture than Hass avocados, they are better suited for salads, sandwiches, and sushi. Another example would be pineapples: European consumers prefer the MD2 pineapple, but most Ugandan pineapples are of the Smooth Cayenne variety. With the right marketing campaigns designed to promote these non-legacy varieties, Ugandan fruits could become a niche product in global markets.
Processing Potential
Thirdly, one of the key solutions to wasted fruit supplies is through value-addition that increases fruit shelf life. Currently, the majority of Uganda fruits are exported fresh, and there is not a lot of value-addition domestically. This is mainly due to the lack of appropriate infrastructure, namely processing facilities. Processing fruits not only increases the shelf lives of the products but also increases the margins for farmers and processors.
Significant investments are being made by the Ugandan government to improve value-addition infrastructure in the country, for example by improving education on value-addition practices. According to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, during the 21st COMESA International Trade Fair and High-Level Business Summit, leaders of African countries, including the president of Uganda, discussed “ideas and efforts to diversify and add value to raw materials produced in Africa instead of the continent being a source of raw products for the rest of the world.”
Improvements in Infrastructure Imminent
A final factor that further challenges Ugandan fruit exports is that Uganda is a landlocked country, which limits transportation options. The closest seaport is 1,200 km away, in Mombasa, Kenya. However, the Ugandan government and major companies such as France’s Total and China’s CNOOC are investing in Ugandan infrastructure and major projects are underway.
With an ideal location and climate for fruit production, Uganda has great potential to increase its global market presence. Any of a number of external or internal adjustments can lead a way out of the present stalemate, including infrastructure upgrades, niche market development abroad, and standardization at home.