FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON HASS AVOCADO VALUE CHAIN
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON HASS AVOCADO VALUE CHAIN
- What is Hass Avocado?
- HASS AVOCADO is a new type/variety of avocado
- Like other types of Avocado, Has Avocado also health/nutrition (high in iron and antioxidants) and income benefits.
- Accounts for over 80% of the global market
- High global demand US $ 12.8 BN in 2019 and expected to raise to US $ 17.905BN by 2025
- Ideal for export because it is a small fruit, is easily packed and a box can accommodate big numbers e.g 4kgs box 16 pcs of 250g each, 10kgs of 40 fruits and others pack in crates of 20 kgs at 4 fruits @ kg.
- Has a rough skin as a natural protection against harsh conditions especially during transportation?
- Has the highest oil content of an average of 14% but can go up to 23%?
- Hass Avocado oil is quality oil that has demand across the globe.
- How long does it take to mature?
A well-managed tree produces mature fruits at 3 years although some farmers report to have started harvesting as early as 2 years and 2 months
- Why Hass Avocado?
- It is high value crop with high demand for both fresh fruit and oil on the global market
- Has a relatively high yield potential
- Has high health and nutritional values
- Breakeven acreage is one acre
- Break even period with an acre of well managed Orchard is the 4 year
- How much money can a farmer make from 1 acre?
- 1 acres of a Hass Avocado garden requires a starter up capital of UGX 10.5M= including provision for irrigation (costed at UGX 5M=)
- A farmer recovers UGX 8.7M= of the starter up cost at end of 3rd year
- Recovers the remaining UGX 1,901,333M= of the starter up cost (breaks even) and makes a gross profit of UGX 4.2M at the end of 4th year
- 5th year a farmer makes a gross profit of UGX 14.2M as the yield continues doubling
- 6th year a farmer makes a gross profit of UGX 32.2M as the tree gets to its peak production
- Where is the market for Hass Avocado?
- Hass Avocado fruits and oil are traded globally
- Private sector continues to position itself on the global market by trading both fresh fruit and oil yet a limited scale. By June 2023, there will be at least 5 processing facilities established in different parts of the country
- Government has partnered with eight large scale farmers as Nucleus Farmers to promote Hass Avocado through production of quality seedlings, increasing production on their own farms but also through a network of out grower schemes, adding value to the fruits produced and trading quality products on the global market.
- Market for fruits includes individuals (31.2%), retailers (25%), wholesalers (18.7%), processors (12.5%) and exporters (12.5%). However, the processors buy the bulk (97.5%) of the fruits.
- Potential export market include Asia, UAE, Qatar and China as well as Europe especially Italy. There is high demand for both fresh fruits and avocado oil in Europe and China.
- Cosmetic Industries
- What is the price?
- Currently the price per kg of exportable fruit ranges from UGX 2,000 to UGX 3,500= per kg depending on the market one is selling to. For the non – exportable fruits commonly referred to as “Rejects” the price ranges between UGX 500 to 800 per kg
- How much is the harvest per tree?
At 3 years a well-managed tree produces 100 fruits (an average of 25kgs with 4 fruits per kg) although one farmer reported to have harvested 300 fruits at 3 years of age.
- How many trees go in one acre and what spacing?
- 160 trees at a spacing of 5m*5m
- 80 trees at a spacing of 10m*10m
- 120 trees at a spacing of 6m*6m
- Decision on what spacing to use is mainly guided by soil fertility levels and level of mechanization to be applied.
- How does one know when to harvest?
- Hass avocado is harvested 9 months from the time of flowering
- When a pronounced ring forms at the joint point of the stalk to the fruit
- When the fruit turns colour from deep shiny green to pale green and then purplish green. However, after the fruit turns purplish green, it’s no longer fit for export.
- Which places are suitable.
Currently Hass Avocado is being grown in few districts in Northern, Eastern, Western and South-western Uganda in the undermentioned districts according to the recently concluded baseline survey by NAADS;
- Lira; Dokolo; Apac; Kwania; Mayuge; Kayunga; Wakiso; Masaka; Mukono
- Kyegegwa; Fort Portal; Kabarole; Kamwenge; Kasese; Kyenjojo
- Mubende; Mityana; Nakaseke; Luwero; Mbarara; Kabale; Kanungu
- Other upcoming ones include Kitagwenda, Sembabule, Kiryandongo, Kagadi, Masindi, Kibaale, Kamuli, Iganga and Mbale.
- Are they resistant to pests and diseases?
No they are not.
Pests
- There are 4 pests of economic importance including 2 of quarantine nature ( Mediterranean fruit fly and False Coddling Moth), Thrips and Mites
Diseases
- Most common and of economic importance include Avocado root rot caused by Phytophtora spp and Anthracnose.
- What support does Government give to Hass Avocado farmers?
- Government is highly committed to providing full support to the development and promotion of the Hass Avocado value chain.
- Government through NAADS has partnered with Large scale farmers as nucleus farmers to promote the Hass avocado value chain through;
- Production of quality planting materials
- Provision of quality planting materials to willing and interested out-growers in a cost-sharing arrangement.
- Provision of extension services in collaboration with government extension staff
- Working with District Local Governments, organize farmers into associations/farmer cooperatives
- Buying produce from the out-growers.
- Where can farmers find good quality/genuine and certified seedlings
- Government has partnered with eight (8) large scale farmers as Nucleus farmers to produce high quality seedlings for farmers/out growers.
- The seedlings are, before every planting season assessed for conformity to the set specifications by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and NAADS
- What are causes of high mortality rates of seedlings in the field
- Planting immature seedlings of less than 6 months after grafting
- Transportation stress and damages; ferrying seedlings from distant places leading to getting damaged during transit
- Supply of seedlings during a dry spell against inadequate access to water
- Poor seedling management; supplying seedling that have been uprooted from their original pots
- Lack of training; most farmers receive/buy seedlings but don’t get any relevant training to get them started