New factory raises hope for Teso fruit farmers

Orange growers in Teso Sub-region have welcomed the new fruit factory with hopes that it will strengthen poverty eradication efforts in the region. The factory was set to be launched by President Museveni yesterday.

The farmers were speaking at a stakeholder’s workshop in Soroti Town on Friday ahead of the launch of the factory.
The workshop was organised by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KIOCA).
South Korea was the lead financier of the project, investing a grant of $8m (about Shs29b) while Uganda government provided funding of $2.2m (about Shs8.2b).

The money was spent on construction of the factory, equipment installation, and training of Ugandan staff to operate the plant.

Ms Justine Omeke Ididi, a citrus farmer in Katakwi District, said they will now have a competitive market to sell their fruits.
“We had waited for the plant for long, but now that it’s at hand, it is our mandate to supply quantities needed,” Ms Omeke who is also the former chairperson, Teso Tropical Fruits Cooperative Union (TEFCU) said.

Ms Omeke said they received training on disease control and management from KOICA. However, she highlighted the need to extend the training to other farmers in the country. Mr Ronald Okalembo, a fruit farmer in Ngora District, said the generosity exhibited by KOICA in partnership with the government of Uganda will enable fruit farmers earn money from their orchards.
“There are a few things that we need to address, that is the issue of pests, diseases and extend soft loans to farmers to access simple irrigation for their farms,” he said.

The Soroti District chairperson, Mr Mike Engunyu, said it is incumbent upon them as leaders to rally farmers to grow more fruits in order to maximise benefits the plant will be offering.
He urged the farmers to embrace the project and remain united.

Project objective
Ms Jun Young Suk, the KOICA country director, said the main objective of the project is to reduce poverty and improve the household incomes of fruit farmers in Teso Sub-region and beyond.

“The Republic of Korea through KOICA has invested $8m (about Shs29b) towards construction of factory, equipment installation and training of the Ugandan staff to operate the factory. I am happy to announce that the project is now complete and will be officially handed over to the government of Uganda on April 13 (yesterday),” she said.

“The project is primarily for the farmers and it is necessary that as the key stakeholders, they gain a clear understanding of the factory operations and how they stand to benefit so that the project can achieve its objectives,” Ms Suk said.

Soroti Fruit Factory will be processing two metric tonnes of mangoes per hour, and six metric tonnes of oranges per hour.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Uganda Development Cooperation will control 80 per cent shares, while TEFCU will have 20 per cent shares, but will gradually increase overtime to give farmers a more prominent stake in the factory ownership.

BENEFITS
Some of the key benefits farmers expect are ready market and stable prices for their fruits, farming inputs such as farming tools, improved seed varieties, pesticides.
Others include extension services, farmer trainings in best practices for fruit farming, environment conservation, tree planting awareness and sensitisation campaigns.