Locally known as Ova, the Ugandan Avocados are diverse when it comes to size, variety, flavour, colour and shape. They come in oval, pear, elongated and round shapes and this is how they are distinguished from each other. The skin and the flavour depend on the variety of the avocado planted and the colour ranges from dark purple, green and almost black.
They are grown in the different parts of the country majorly on a small scale however there has been an introduction of avocado farms to increase the production of the fruits so that some of them are exported to different countries across the world. Avocados are a source of vitamins E, C, A, and K, potassium and folic acid. Their leaves are also used for medicinal purposes by most of the locals across the country to treat different ailments.
Avocado varieties in Uganda
Hass Avocado
The most commonly grown type of Avocado in Uganda is the Hass Avocado which can be found in different parts of the country. Hass Avocado is produced throughout the year, high in fat and has a rough texture.
Other species that are grown in the country, although on a small scale, include shepherd, Hall, semil, Boss six and pinkaton.
Avocado Diseases and pests
The most common pests and diseases that affect avocados include fruit spot, leaf rot, bugs, caterpillars, scales, root rot and mites. The best way to avoid the above is by using crop rotation, spraying insecticides and pesticides.
- Scab, this mainly attacks the fruits and leaves. Causing dark oval spots to appear on the affected part.
- Anthracnose, it mainly attacks the mature avocados and it causes dry dark spots on them. It is best controlled through spraying with fungicides.
- Root rot affects the plants that are found in areas that are poorly drained and the best way to prevent this is by using chemicals and also hot water treatment of the seed before planting.
Planting avocados
Avocados can be grown either from avocado seedlings or seeds. For the past few years, there has been an increase in grafting the avocado trees and this has greatly improved the avocado yields on the market. The seeds and seedlings that are to be used for planting should first be thoroughly checked to ensure that they are free from diseases. Both the seeds and seedlings are first planted in the nursery and they can only be transplanted to the main garden after 6 months.
You need to plant the avocado trees in a straight line so that it is easy for crop rotation to be carried out and it also helps with easy pruning and thinning. The tree spacing ranges from 7 to 8 to 10m apart but it normally depends on the fertility of the soil and many more other factors like weather. The holes where you are planning on planting the avocado trees should be at least 70cm deep and with the spacing, it helps the trees get enough nutrients from the soil for proper growth.
When it comes to manure, make sure that you try to apply urea and other fertilizers available at least every 3 to 4 months. Weeding can also be done both manually and mechanically and it should be carried out earlier on when the trees are still young. You can also spray pesticides to prevent pests like bugs and caterpillars among others.
Pruning should only be done if the trees have extra branches although this might not be possible since most of the avocado trees grow with straight and well-arranged branches.
Harvesting of avocados
Avocado trees reach maturity at around 5 to 6 years for the local breed and for those that have been grafted it takes three years to reach maturity and harvest. After harvesting, you need to keep them for about 5 to 10 days in order for them to become soft and avoid using sharp objects while harvesting as they cause damage to the fruits.
Market for the fruits
There is an available market for avocados and this is in the form of market vendors, fruit sellers, cosmetic companies and you might as well export them to different countries. And with avocado farming, you will be able to get back all the money invested and much more especially if they are well taken care of.
Reasons as to why you should venture into the avocado growing
- Avocado trees can be grown anywhere and both on a small or on a large scale.
- They reduce cholesterol because they are high in monounsaturated fat.
- Avocados generate a high income and they need little or no supervision.
- The start-up cost for avocado growing is very low.
- It is also good for the eyes, hair and skin.
Avocado farming is the next big step that every farmer should invest in because it requires little capital and with the increase of grafting in the country, you do not need to wait for the whole year in order for you to get harvest. At the moment an avocado costs between shs500 and shs2000 depending on where you are buying it from and the type.
Hass avocado changes fortune of Mayuge farmers
Sitting on 2,500 acres on the shores of Lake Victoria in Mayuge District, Musubi Farm is one of Uganda’s largest Hass avocado growing hub. “Some of the fruits are mature, others are not, but we will soon be harvesting,” says Mustafa Bett, who together with his friend Abubakar Ssengendo, run the farm.
The farm which grows Hass avocado for export purposes, also sources from other farms, packs and markets quality avocados year-round to European markets.
Starting
Mustafa and his business partner have been growing avocados since 2017 after switching from sugarcane. “We shifted to avocado after the sugarcane industry became shaky. I cannot regret having moved since some of my colleagues who stuck to sugarcane are facing numerous challenges that have made the industry lose its luster.”
The farmer recalls the good old days when he was growing sugarcane. “Previously we used to make good money, but prices of sugarcane have dropped greatly. Sugarcane farmers are not making much,” Mustafa tells Seeds of Gold. To switch to avocados, Mustafa says they cut down the entire sugarcane plantation to prepare the land for the new wonder crop. “I had been in the horticultural industry for more than 15 years. I knew what could make money and I convinced my colleague. Neighbors thought it was not a smart move.”
The farm started its Hass avocado growing in 2018, with a block of 15 acres which is also serving as their mother garden for Hass avocado trees, used to graft new seedlings. “I chose Hass variety because it has a longer shelf-life. It also grows and produces more yields. We bought seedlings from a friend. We decided to increase the number in the second year,” says Ssengendo.
Profitable
Ssengendo who is also the farm’s lead agronomist says that unlike sugarcane, avocado farming is profitable yet it requires minimal maintenance. “The seedlings should be planted during the rainy season for better growth. The spacing between the trees should be seven by seven metres. If the trees are not well-spaced, the canopies will overlap and yields will fail.” During planting, the holes should be filled with about five kilograms of manure and one can later add DAP fertilizer for better growth. They harvest 600 fruits from each tree annually—equivalent to between 100 kilograms and 150 kilograms of fruits. The fruits are mainly sold in Middle East, Saudi Arabia, France, Holland and Germany.
“France and Holland are the major markets. We supply directly to the markets about 20 tonnes of avocados,” he says. Mustafa hopes to start producing avocado seedlings to meet the high demand from farmers seeking to grow the crop.
Challenges
Not all is rosy with growing Hass avocado. As many other farmers, one of their main challenge is the avocado lace bug, an insect which invades fruits. “We use the fly catcher to trap the insect which hides under the soil,” says Ssengendo, who also trains farmers from neighboring villages how to grow seedlings.
The farmer says they have also had to grapple with fungal infections including the anthracnose. Anthracnose makes the fruits rot or end up with a bitter taste. It is not easy to notice it since the fruit’s skin is usually black or brown when ripe.
Infection of the fruit can take place at any time after fruit-set but the damage does not show up until after picking, during post-harvest storage and marketing. Anthracnose can affect the plants at any stage of their growth. The fungus easily affects fruit quality since the damaged areas of the avocados discolor and have a sour taste.
Capital
The duo started their venture with a seed capital of Shs30m Mustafa says they spent about Shs2m on each acre. After expanding the farm to 2500 acres, Mustafa reveals they spent Shs8b on fixing the drip irrigation system. “This system cost us about Shs8.1m per acre,” he says.
Employees
The farm has more than 1000 workers. “We have offered jobs to both skilled and unskilled Ugandans. Most of them get the skills from this farm,” says Mustafa.
Advice
Ssengendo advises farmers who want to start avocado farming to seek the services of soil testers. “A Hass avocado tree can grow successfully in a variety of soil types and in soil with acidic or alkaline pH levels, but the tree requires soil that has good drainage,” says Ssengendo. Avocados are more sensitive to water-logging than citrus hence soils should be well-drained. “Poorly drained soils are associated with the presence of the Phytophthora fungi, which causes root or stem end rot. Suitable soils are medium sandy loams with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5.” “An avocado tree needs to cross-pollinate with another variety for optimal fruit set. Although avocado flowers have both male and female flower parts, each part functions at a different time during the day.”
The trees are grouped into Type A and Type B, depending on the time of day their male and female flower parts are reproductively viable. Planting Type A tree and Type B tree increases successful pollination if enough insect pollinators, such as bees, are present.
What you did not know about avocados
An avocado has more potassium than any other fruit. A single fruit has 975mg of potassium, which is double that offered by bananas. The fruits are high in protein. A single avocado has 4gm of protein, which is higher than that in other fruits. Avocados ripen more quickly when placed with bananas or apples. This is because the two fruits release ethylene gas, which helps green avocados ripen rapidly.
Antioxidants, amino acids and essential oils in avocado repair damaged hair, keep skin moisturized and minimize wrinkles.
