- Uganda launched a national campaign for increased avocado growing last year.
- The Minister of Agriculture, Vincent Ssempijja has recently laid more emphasis on the Hass avocado variety which has better export prospects.
Uganda launched a national campaign for increased avocado growing last year. It is viewed as a crop that could fetch high prices, alleviate poverty, and add nutritional value to the diet.
The Minister of Agriculture, Vincent Ssempijja has recently laid more emphasis on the Hass avocado variety which has better export prospects. Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mukono ZARDI) has been given the responsibility of producing the fruit’s seedlings for farmers to plant with a target to produce 600,000 grafted seedlings every year. The seedlings will be distributed to farmers at subsidised prices.
Hass Avocado variety has been recommended due to its several favourable features. The high-yielding Hass trees maturing fast in two to three years and the fruits have small seeds and big flesh with high oil content. The thick skin makes it easy for packaging and shipping. It also has a long shelf life.
The farmers will be monitored and assisted by National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro) to ensure good agronomic practices to meet the expected international hygienic fruit production standards. There are plans to link them to avocado exporters and also explore the possibility of contract farming. Research and farming of the other varieties of Avacado will also be continued.
Naro reports that avocado offers a lot of health and nutritional benefits.It is rich in heart-healthy oil that can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart diseases. It is rich in potassium which is essential for muscle activity regulation. They are rich in dietary fibers which lower the risk of developing stroke, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Value addition research at Mukono ZARDI is also on.
