Apples lifted me from poverty - Kisolo

Iam Boax Kisolo, a resident of Makoti village in Tunyi Sub-county, Bulambuli District. I love farming and I believe it is my calling.
I grow different types of fruits like passion fruits, cocoa and avocados but I major in apples.
I started this in 1984 with nine seedlings, which I bought from Kenya. Then I was not aware of anyone else growing apples in Uganda.
Unfortunately, the seedlings weathered and died because I didn’t have the skills to handle them.
I did not follow up with the venture until 2005, when I was one of 25 farmers, who were trained on how to grow apples by the Eastern Private Sector Development Centre (EPSDC).
Each participant was given 10 seedlings after the training as start-up and testing tool on whether we had mastered the necessary skills in apple farming.

Second time lucky
I took care of the plants and its yields were far more than I had anticipated. I realised that it was a venture worth investing but I lacked the resources.
That led me to join Naads programme in Sironko District before Bulambuli was gazzeted as a local government in 2008. In those days, President Museveni was calling upon farmers to venture in high-value crops.
We were selected from different sub-counties who received the plants that Naads also bought from Kenya. This time, each of us got 300 seedlings.

However, out of the 25 farmers who underwent that training, I am the only one who remained growing apples. Because I have persisted and have stood the test of time.
There are now more than 500 apple trees on my farm, managed 96 per cent by us (as family members). The four per cent represents the input from the technical personnel, whenever the need arises.
I grow a variety of apples including Tropical, Hannah, Golden Delicious, Mexican, Green Giant and Winter Banana, which is the pollinator.
The latter attracts the bees, which visit other plants. Winter banana is very vital when growing apples. Each plant especially if its Golden Delicious and Green Giant, it can yield more than 300 fruits. This is compared to the other types can yield 40-50 fruits.

Market
Each fruit can go for Shs600-Shs700 depending on the prevailing market.
I harvest twice a year; with each harvest I earn more than Shs3m minus all expenditures. I sell my apples to traders from Kenya as those from within the country. Even individual customers routinely buy from me, at the worst I would not lack Shs5,000 in my pocket.

Good conditions
I have enjoyed growing apples because this being mountainous area, the climate conditions are favourable for that activity.
I have tried to grow the fruits in another area but this is not doing well there. In mountainous areas, the altitude is 1,362 metres above the sea level, which is recommended.
I use drip irrigation to water my plants during dry season to maintain good yields.
Apples require a lot of care. I prune them to get best crops and the method and type of pruning depends on the type of apple. I nourish the plants with fertilisers following the manufacturer’s instruction and recommended agronomic practices.

Achievements
I have achieved a lot from growing apples. Apart from paying for my children’s education, I have lifted my family from household poverty.
Growing apples is not costly. It is rewarding since market is available and there are few farmers so there is little competition. It is unlike growing coffee, tomatoes or onions.
I have built various connections in the country and since I started nursery beds. I supply the seedlings to Naads as well as individual farmers. Each seedlings goes for Shs6,000.

Challenges
Irrigation during dry season is difficult without gravitational water flow. I also face the challenge of birds, which peck the ripe fruits.
There is the menace of thieves. Though there is a fence, they steal enough to hurt my business.
There is lack of soil sampling services to know type of manure to use. As a result, there is abortion of crops.

Future plans
I want to operate nursery beds at large scale. I also intend to engage district leaders to establish a gravity water scheme. It will be of utmost importance to all farmers in the area.
The government should also train farmers on how to grow apples since its rewarding venture.