Uganda is gradually becoming a potential for the international avocado market. The country has suitable soil and climate for producing avocados. There is an ever-growing demand for avocados worldwide, especially the Hass avocado variety, because of the increased consumption of healthy foods in markets; for example, Europe and the Middle East import avocados on a large scale. Therefore, increasing agricultural exports holds the potential to develop the economy—and the lives of these farmers. 

Smallholder farmers are Uganda’s main producers of avocados today, although production is gradually improving. They use traditional farming practices, which reduce their production compared to modern methods. However, the government and private sector are now developing better farming practices, better market links, and programs to promote organic farming for avocados.

This growing interest in the avocado industry aligns with Uganda’s strategy to expand its agricultural export basket. It would greatly increase the country’s certification processes and farmer training programs, placing it on the global map for avocado-exporting nations.

However, there are factors that, if addressed, could make Uganda a leading producer of avocados worldwide.

Uganda’s avocado industry faces several significant challenges that limit its growth. 

1. A major challenge is that smallholder farmers produce most avocados. These farmers usually do not have access to modern farming techniques, high-quality planting materials, or fertilizers. Thus, their avocado production capacity is higher than it should be. However, they produce much less avocado than they would like. 

2. Also, most farmers cultivate local varieties, which are not as good as the Hass avocado, which is in demand worldwide.

3. There are also concerns related to infrastructure problems. Due to Uganda’s landlocked nature, transport costs are high. The main issue is that avocados tend to rot before reaching the market. Hence, adequate cold storage infrastructure and efficient supply chain networks need to be improved. It makes it difficult for Ugandan avocados to compete with neighboring countries with better infrastructural bases.

4. The other challenge is that certification is expensive. Global markets, especially those in Europe, demand quality produce. Many smallholder farmers need help to afford the certification processes to access these markets. Also, smallholder farmers cannot access loans, so they cannot invest in the inputs to increase production and meet the export standards.

Here are some of the main strategies that could help Uganda’s avocado industry to overcome these challenges:

1.The Government and private sectors help. The most important one is that the government pays attention to cultivating avocados. For instance, the National Organic Agriculture Policy (NOAP) encourages the adoption of organic farming. This move enables smallholder farmers to cut the cost of inputs and meet international market standards. 

2. The government is also focusing on certification and export-related logistical issues to enhance export activity further.

3. Private farming companies like Agricado Farms hold the key to changing the trend in the farming industry. Agricado Farms links with smallholder farmers through out-grower schemes and offers the best quality Hass avocado planting materials and technical support. Such linkages assist farmers in raising productivity and accessing export markets. By cooperating with such farmers, the companies promote increased productivity, which guarantees that the quality of avocados meets global demand.

4. Attempts to reduce certification expenses are also being made. Certification bodies in major producer countries are making it more accessible for smallholders. By meeting these standards, they can do business internationally. 

5. Other investments in infrastructure, particularly in cold chain transport infrastructure, are increasing Uganda’s ability to export avocados to the Global market.

The Uganda’s avocado sector has been steadily being implemented through a partnership between the government, various firms, and the farmers. These steps have assisted farmers in raising productivity, decreasing costs, and improving physical access to the market. Below are critical ways to these solutions: 

• Government Policy Support:

The Ugandan government developed the National Organic Agriculture Policy (NOAP) to encourage the use of techniques that are acceptable in the global market. This initiative reduced chemical inputs, which means that smallholder farmers will not struggle in export markets.

The government, through the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development(PACEID), has been coordinating with different departments to ease export challenges, including certification and logistics, to enable the more efficient exportation of avocados.

• Private Sector Engagement:

Some of the activities that Agricado Farms has performed include training farmers on modern methods of avocado farming. The company has out-grower schemes, whereby smallholder farmers are supplied with Hass avocado seedlings and training. Agricado also assists these farmers in gaining market access by connecting them to buyers, hence solving their market access issues.

Another private firm was House of Seeds, which supplies affordable, quality avocado seedlings to farmers. These linkages assist farmers in cultivating the more preferable Hass variety, which is in high demand in the export markets.

• Infrastructure Development:

Incremental investments have been made in cold storage and pack houses to minimize the country’s dependence on costly air transportation. For instance, an Agribusiness company, Mount Meru Group, has developed pack houses where avocados are packed and stored for the export market, thus enhancing the quality of the fruit.

The government is also working to develop the existing road and transport network. So that the supply of farm produce to export destinations is faster and cheaper.

• Certification and Market Access:

Certification forums to help smallholder farmers access international certifications. Such as the Global GAP at a more affordable price. It is crucial in helping farmers enter high-value markets, especially in Europe and the Middle East.

Certification costs have been a major issue in the production of organic products. To overcome the barriers that individual smallholders cannot afford to pay certification costs. They have formed cooperatives to fund the costs. These cooperatives also act as bargaining tools in favor of their members.

The government, private sector, and farmers have worked together to grow Uganda’s avocado sector. In recent years, Hass avocado has had a high global demand, valued at $12.8bn in 2019, and is expected to rise to $17.9bn by 2025.

The increase in exports is mostly caused by the rising production of Hass avocados, which are in high demand in international markets. Such exporters have been able to sell to premium markets in Europe and the Middle East at better prices.

Farmers involved in out-grower schemes have reported that such yields can be increased up to 50 %, resulting in higher incomes.

Agricado Farms has observed that its partner farmers consistently produce better-quality avocados that meet export standards for the European market. Therefore, smallholder farmers are enjoying better livelihoods and more stable income sources.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, including the creation of cold storage facilities, post-harvest losses were also reduced. This change has helped improve Uganda’s competitiveness. Also, more avocados could be exported by sea rather than by expensive air shipment. The stage is being set for continued growth in Uganda’s avocado industry.

Uganda’s avocado industry has improved remarkably in production and export capacity. Avocado farmers are enjoying higher yields and better incomes. Thanks to strong government backing, policies promoting organic farming, and private sector initiatives. Uganda is making a name for itself in global markets such as Europe and the Middle East by exporting Hass avocados.

However, there are challenges, such as infrastructure and certification costs. Investments in cold storage, transport, and affordable certification are paying off. Projections suggest that both production and exports will continue to grow in the future. Uganda can become Africa’s leading avocado exporter if these efforts are sustained. The avocado will be a major contributor to economic growth and rural development.