Blog

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON HASS AVOCADO VALUE CHAIN

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON HASS AVOCADO VALUE CHAIN

  1. 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.
  1. 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

  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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.

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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
  1. 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

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

× Get in touch!

Enter your keyword