Uganda grower prospers after marketing pineapple chips
She was a subsistence farmer who grew pineapples and other food crops. She would sell fresh pineapples to get money to meet her basic needs. Annually, she would make Shs1.2m from the two planting seasons which was not enough to address her needs.
"There are many pineapple farmers in Kangulumira Sub-county, so buyers would pay us little money during the peak of the harvesting season," the 44-year-old Nakiwala says.
However, the year 2000 was a turning point for the mother of four. This was the time when she decided to switch to selling pineapple crisps.
She conceived the idea after receiving some training from a friend, who was already engaged in solar pineapple drying. The friend, she adds, told her about some Europeans who wanted to buy dried pineapples.
"I decided to invest my little savings of Shs350,000 to start the venture," she says, adding, she bought a solar dryer at Shs250,000.
Now, in a week, she sells twice to Fruits of the Nile, who in most cases pay her cash. "I earn about Shs400,000 per week from my enterprise," She adds that she began selling in small quantities to buyers from Germany.
Read more at allafrica.com
