Stakeholders in Uganda’s avocado value chain have held discussions with government officials on measures to address challenges affecting production, value addition, and access to international markets.

The engagement, held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala today, brought together farmers, exporters, processors, government agencies, and other key players to discuss ways of strengthening the avocado industry and ensuring that all actors benefit from the growing global demand for avocado products.

Representing Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Mr. Stephen Kaheru commended the Ministry of Agriculture and other government agencies for supporting efforts to resolve concerns affecting investors in the sector.

He said the engagement demonstrated a shared commitment towards transforming the avocado value chain into a driver of economic growth and improved livelihoods.

“We are gathered here because we share a common vision of transforming the avocado value chain into a vehicle that catalyzes economic growth and improves rural livelihoods,” Mr. Kaheru said.

He noted that the meeting was critical in addressing barriers preventing exporters and other players from fully tapping into the potential of the sector.

“We are here to collectively address the concerns that hinder us as farmers and exporters from realizing the full potential of this value chain as a catalyst for rural transformation,” he said.

Mr. Kaheru emphasized that cooperation among government ministries, departments, agencies, and private sector players would be key to achieving sustainable results.

“The seamless collaboration amongst ministries, departments and agencies is what will yield the real value that we are all yearning for, from the seed to the plate,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the discussions would lead to practical solutions that allow investors to realize returns on their investments while benefiting all actors in the value chain.

The Commissioner of External Trade, Mr.  Cleopas Ndorere, who represented the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives (MTIC) Ms. Lynette Bagonza, welcomed stakeholders and said the government was committed to supporting the growth of the avocado industry.

Mr. Ndorere thanked Col. Nakalema for drawing attention to the sector and bringing together stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting the industry.

“We are here to listen to the farmers and obtain their views because we recognize that any interventions must be informed by the perspectives of all stakeholders,” he said.

He encouraged participants to openly share challenges affecting production, quality standards, markets, and value addition to guide government policy interventions.

“We want to ensure that farmers, exporters, and other players are supported to promote quality production, value addition, and market access,” Mr. Ndorere said.

Mr. Peter Dhamuzungu, who represented, Maj. Gen(Rtd) David Kasura Kyomukama,the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), said government recognizes the growing importance of avocado as an emerging commercial crop and is committed to working with stakeholders to address challenges affecting the value chain.

He said the discussions provided an opportunity for farmers, exporters, processors, and other actors to share concerns and propose solutions that will improve production, quality standards, and market access.

“We are here to listen to the different players in the value chain so that interventions are informed by the realities on the ground,” Mr. Dhamuzungu said.

The Board Chairperson of the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA), Ms. Victoria Sekitoleko, traced the growth of avocado sector discussions, saying the industry had come a long way from small stakeholder meetings.

She thanked farmers and sector players who remained committed despite limited resources during the early stages.

Ms. Sekitoleko called for greater involvement of relevant government agencies, especially those responsible for cooperatives, industry, standards, and export promotion.

She said the growth of avocado as an emerging commercial crop required a deliberate strategy and stronger coordination.

“Avocado is a new crop, so we are going to need new policies and a strategy for avocado,” Ms. Sekitoleko said.

She urged the government to work closely with stakeholders on international market trends, noting that Uganda needed to position itself competitively in global markets.

Mr. Francis Kasirinya from the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance said Uganda must improve its competitiveness if it is to benefit from the expanding global avocado market.

“Nobody buys from you out of sympathy. You must meet the requirements of quality, price, and trust,” Mr. Kasirinya said.

He warned that an unstructured local market was affecting farmers, exporters, and the country’s reputation.

He explained that without proper market organization, farmers receive inconsistent information, exporters struggle to access reliable raw materials, and Uganda’s brand suffers.

“Markets work best when they are organized,” Mr. Kasirinya said, adding that better coordination would improve quality, information flow, investment, revenue collection, and job creation.

Meanwhile, Agribusiness Entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Avotein Farms Limited, Mr. Hank Dahlan, said Uganda’s avocado sector was still at an early stage compared to leading global producers.

He noted that while Uganda has potential due to its favourable climate, more effort was needed to understand export markets and meet international standards.

“We haven’t started, literally. If you compare us with the largest exporters in the world, we are still very small,” Mr. Dahlan said.

He emphasized that Hass avocado was primarily an export crop and required farmers and exporters to focus on quality.

“This is a cash crop for export. It is not something where we should just assume we are doing a huge thing. We need to understand the market,” he said.

Mr. Dahlan also called for better regulation of cross-border trade and stronger farmer organization to improve competitiveness.

He urged farmers to focus on producing quality fruits that meet market requirements.

“Do not blame exporters because you are not organized. Organize yourselves, take care of your fruits, and the market will come to you,” he said.

Mr. Richard Welisha, founder of the National Avocado Federation of Uganda and an avocado farmer, called for careful consideration of proposed regulations affecting the avocado value chain, saying farmers’ interests must remain central.

Mr. Welisha said many farmers were concerned about proposals reportedly aimed at restricting certain buyers, particularly Kenyan buyers, from accessing Uganda’s avocado produce.

“Most of us avocado farmers are worried about those proposals in the newspapers. We call upon leaders to explain these proposed measures,” Mr. Welisha said.

He questioned whether Ugandan buyers were offering farmers prices comparable to those offered by external buyers, noting that competition had helped improve earnings at the farm level.

“Where are these Ugandan buyers paying the same or higher prices to farmers at the farm gate? Where are they?” he asked.

Mr. Welisha also raised concerns about proposals requiring buyers to go through designated buying centres, local market dealers, or cooperatives, arguing that regulations should not disadvantage farmers.

He cautioned against introducing measures that could weaken the sector, saying lessons should be drawn from other agricultural experiences where restrictive regulations affected farmers’ livelihoods.

Mr. Welisha emphasized that despite differing views among players, collaboration remained critical to developing a sustainable avocado value chain.

“We have no issues with investors. Let us work together. Let the regulations come out, but let us agree and work together,” he said.

He added that the avocado sector was still developing and required cooperation between farmers, investors, exporters, and the government to achieve its full potential.

Ms. Katushabe Harriet Matsiko, an avocado farmer from Ntungamo District, shared her journey in the avocado business, saying she ventured into the sector during the COVID-19 period as an alternative source of livelihood.

Ms. Matsiko, who currently manages 60 acres of avocado, said she started with a nursery bed before expanding into avocado production and supplying seedlings to other farmers.

She urged farmers to prioritize production as the foundation of a successful avocado value chain.

“As farmers, let us begin with production, then other things will come later,” Ms. Matsiko said.

She called on the Ministry of Agriculture to support farmers by helping standardize the chemicals used in avocado farming to address pests and diseases that affect productivity and quality.

Ms. Matsiko said access to proper agricultural inputs was essential if Uganda’s avocado sector was to meet both local and international market requirements.

She also appealed for increased investment in irrigation systems, noting that unreliable water supply remains a major challenge affecting avocado production.

The meeting brought together farmers, exporters, processors, government officials, and other stakeholders who committed to strengthening Uganda’s avocado value chain for increased economic returns.