The East African market for fruits and vegetables is expected to hit $1.3 billion by 2025, with Uganda poised to make significant contributions. This growth is forecasted to continue over the next decade.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Jumah Al Maktoum of the UAE royal family will provide Uganda with seven cargo planes to boost its agro exports, with one Boeing 737 already at Entebbe Airport and the rest arriving soon. His initiative addresses major challenges in Uganda's agro export sector, including quality packaging, storage facilities, post-harvest handling, agricultural credit, high freight costs, and modern production practices.
A key part of this plan is building a cold storage center in Entebbe to facilitate large-scale exports of agricultural commodities to markets like the UAE and Algeria. This infrastructure will help Ugandan producers meet sanitary and phytosanitary standards required for exports to Europe and the United States.
Kenya's success in agro exports, earning about Kshs9 billion ($70 million) every three months from avocado exports to China, illustrates the potential benefits for Uganda. Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's investment in modernizing Uganda's air cargo and cold storage capabilities is a promising step towards enhancing the country's agricultural sector and boosting its economy.
Source: chimpreports.com