What’s more Ugandan, rolex or matooke?
Early this year, we promoted the rolex. Which left me with a few questions;
What is Ugandan about the rolex? Is it the wheat? The cooking oil? The eggs? or the name/brand rolex? Are we the first ones to make rolex? Is it only made in Uganda or are it’s ingredients only found here?
Who benefits more from this promotion? Is it the Ugandan farmers, those selling rolex or the wheat growing countries from where we import our wheat?
Is it possible for any one from anywhere to make rolex, or is there some special skill required?
Are we calling people to come and enjoy the rolex from here or do we want to export it?
If we want to promote our food, I strongly suggest we promote food grown in Uganda, food whose sales will benefit most Ugandans, food that the rest of the world doesn’t have, food that can be exported or attract tourists to come and taste.
According to me, that food can only be matooke. Uganda is the 2nd largest producer of bananas in the world with India being the first then Brazil third. All this is statistically proven. Why can’t we support and demand more product development and research from our own backbone, agriculture?
Some organisations are trying to promote value-added products from matooke. This will not only foster more revenue to the country but also embed a chain of farmers who are fascinating in banana farming. Uganda can advance the agricultural environment and it can be a common promotional interest for tourism attraction in terms of the end novel products and fast foods that can be generated from matooke.
The tooke products from developing value addition banana industry called PIBID, is one of resourcefully initiatives driving vest interest of how matooke flour can produce confectionery products like instant meals, cakes, and biscuits, etc. This phenomenal product can spill up the tourism hospitality and also expand other opportunities in this country. Besides the industrial venture of Ugandan food products scratches further into value-added to provide prospects for farmers, youth and increase household income if agriculture domain is enriched.
However, the other banana producers like India and Brazil grow the dessert bananas (bogoya, kabalagala, Musa... e.t.c) not matooke. Agriculture is still the backbone of the Uganda’s economy. Let’s promote matooke as a proud unique food product.
Jane Uwera, Kampala
