Value addition training of fruit and vegetable farmers

Country

Uganda

Student

Ranjeet Singh Randhawa, University of Florida
Raminder Kaur, University of Florida

Description

Uganda’s horticultural industry is growing quickly due to diversification of the economy, coupled with rapid economic growth. Over the past few years, high-class supermarkets, restaurants and hotels were established and therefore an increased need for quality products. Nowadays, many supermarkets can accept locally produced value-added products. Unfortunately, the fresh fruit and vegetable farmers in Kyanamukaka and Buwunga sub counties in Masaka District of Uganda have not benefited from these growing market opportunities. In order to solve this problem, NIRP plans to mobilize and train 100 farmers in modern processing and value-addition. This includes supporting the farmers to produce fresh juice pulp from pineapples, tomato sauce from tomatoes, and passion fruit squash from passion fruits. NIRP will also support packaging and marketing the products, enhancing farmers associations, and linking them to companies that can purchase the processed products.