Members of Parliament encourage Ugandans to take on commercial Hass avocado farming to tap into the USDs 9Bn global market
Zulfah Namatovu
Members of parliament have advised the public, especially farmers to adopt to fast growing crops that have more value like Avocado which also allow for intercropping of different varieties of crops on the same piece of land.
The advice was made by members of parliament during a one day Hass Avocado field oversight held at Gomba Orchards Maddu town council in Gomba District.
The oversight was carried out by MPs from the Agriculture Committee of parliament who are pushing government to promote Hass avocado growing countrywide, arguing that it is a game changer in stabilizing farmers income.
Uganda has set its feet deep into the Hass Avocado market aiming at occupying at least ten percent of the global supply. According to Ms. Khadijah Nakakande the spokesperson at the National Agricultural Advisory services NAADS, Hass avocado is a generational crop that will secure incomes for over fifty years”.
The Executive Director Naads Dr Samuel Mugasi said that the country needs to diversify other than relying on the traditional cash crops. He noted that Hass avocado farming as a new cash crop has put Uganda as an emerging new big producer.
“This is presenting an opportunity for the nation to tap into the 9 billion dollars global avocado market. The prices are good and Ugandans should be encouraged to take on Hass avocado farming to increase their incomes and ensure economic growth and national development ,” Dr Mugasi said.
It’s against this background that hundreds of farmers, processors and dealers in Avocado gathered to share their experiences , learn and explore new opportunities available for the Hass avocado famers .
