Avocado is one of the highest demanded commodities on the export market. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Hass Avocado is a perennial crop that is not subject to changing weather patterns – in short, it can be grown all over the country. Because of that, the Ministry has revealed plans to classify it as a high value priority commodity.
On top of producing excellent yields, Hass Avocado has been projected by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) to be right on track to be the most valuable fruit on the market in 2030.
As a means of building on those early success indicators, the ministry is on a mission to improve and increase production in order to fulfill the target meeting the projected market while, albeit silentl, alleviating poverty and malnutrition.
Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, the Chairperson of the National Planning Authority (NPA) committed to the inclusion of Hass avocado as a high value priority commodity in the country’s national plan for the next 5 years
“Hass avocado is incredibly nutritious and contains potassium, heart-healthy acids as well as fibre. In fact, eating avocados lowers cholesterol.” Prof. Mbabazi said at Musubi Farm.
The Ministry field visit to Musubi Farm was intended to formalize the Ministry engagement with the farm as a nucleus farming model for Hass Avocado in Uganda.
“This means, we support Musubi to be able to reach more farmers at the grassroots than we could reach sustainably,” Hon. Frank Tumwebaze the Minister of Agriculture said.
The Minister clarified that the concept of a nuclear farmer (like Musubi) in this context is not to support the rich like the adage of “those who have will be added unto” suggests. Instead, the Minister says, they are doing it to be able to reach the smaller farmers using the nucleus farmers for a sustainable basis.
“Under the parish model, it is the intention of the plan that a particular parish (in addition to securing food for the homes) there is a common enterprise that we all buy and grow for marketing. But to ensure that the marketing works, we need a nucleus farmer. An off taker, who will manage the storage and/or even process.” Hon. Tumwebaze said.
According to nutrition experts, avocado is the most nutritious fruit known today under the sun. The nutrient content completeness of the fruit is rivalled by no other.
It is a single delectable fruit that combines the protein of meat, the fat of butter, but much more wholesome, Vitamins and minerals of fruits and green vegetables and the flavor of nuts. An unrivalled fruit.
Experts confess that populating avocado trees across the country will greatly secure the food basket in Uganda.
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