Avocados have become a classic addition to almost all dishes. Their creamy texture paired with their nutty flavor have earned them a spot on restaurant and hotel menus around the world. Today, avocados are budget-friendly as there is plenty of supply.
Why Avocados Thrive in Uganda
Unlike the past, avocado is now a high-value crop in Uganda. Despite the fact that avocado has been grown in the country for over a decade, Ugandan horticultural exporters started selling it abroad in the 2000s. Actually, avocado farmers in Uganda produce mostly for the domestic market. But since 2017, more of them are venturing into production of Hass avocado for the international market.
Uganda’s physical geography and climate make it an ideal place for growing tasteful avocados. It experiences a tropical climate that is warm as it is crossed by the equator. Much of the country experiences two rainy seasons from March to May and September to November. The other avocado growing conditions in Uganda are:
- Eastern and central areas are at an altitude of 1500m-2100m above sea level.
- Eastern and central areas enjoy 1000mm-1500mm of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year.
- Eastern and central areas experience temperatures as low as 20°C and as high as 25°C.
- Eastern and central areas have at least 6 hours of sunshine per day.
- Eastern and central areas have medium sandy or loam soils with a pH of 5-6.
The biggest avocado producing areas in Uganda are in fertile plains because a larger part of the country is a plateau. Additionally, avocado trees are quickly being cultivated in places surrounding Ruwenzori Mountains, Mt Elgon and Mt Moroto. Areas under huge avocado cultivation are:
- Mayuge
- Masaka
- Mpigi
- Kampala
- Mukono
- Iganga
The three major groups of avocado can all be found in Uganda. Although, hybrids of the Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian races are the most common in the country. There are more than 10 avocado varieties grown in Uganda according to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). Some of them include:
- Hass
- Fuerte
- Reed
- Bacon
- Jumbo
Only a few of avocado cultivars are grown commercially in Uganda regardless of availability of many. While Hass and Fuerte are mainly grown for export, the other types are grown for the domestic market. Here are some of the most common avocado varieties in Uganda with their characteristics:
Hass Avocado
- It has a rich, nutty flavor with buttery, creamy texture
- Its skin turns from green to purplish-black when ripe
- It is an oval-shaped fruit with rough, pebbly skin
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–336g)
- It takes less time to mature
Fuerte Avocado
- It is a pear-shaped fruit with a smooth, leathery skin that is easy to peel
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–392g)
- It has a rich, oily, creamy texture
Jumbo Avocado
- They are made up of local varieties
- They are larger in size compared to other varieties
- Their shapes vary from round to long, pear-shaped
- They have a thick, slightly pebbled green skin
- They have a milder taste due to low fat content
- They take longer to mature than other varieties
- They are used as rootstocks
As the month of May marks the start of avocado season in Uganda, the Fuerte variety is usually ready for picking as early as February. Delicious Ugandan avocados are sold in both the international and local markets until October. But smaller volumes are picked between December and January depending on the production region.
The Economics of Avocado Farming in Uganda
An avocado tree fully matures after five to seven years. A well maintained avocado tree can produce a harvest of about 500 fruits. The standard density planting in Uganda is 166 trees per acre.
Avocado farmers in Uganda are reaping big as farm gate prices have been on the rise in recent years. Prices range depending on the type, size and supply. The average wholesale price for Hass avocado is between 1,500 Ugandan Shillings and 3,000 Ugandan Shillings per kg while for green skin and local varieties is about 1,000 Ugandan Shillings per kg.
Hass is the most profitable avocado variety in Uganda. Taking into account 83,000 fruits, let us calculate the wholesale price of each Hass fruit at 400 Ugandan Shillings. The total expected return from one acre after five years is 33.2 million Ugandan Shillings.
Production Volume of Avocados in Uganda
In a few years, avocado production in Uganda has expanded rapidly. However, there is no consistent data from the government on the total avocado production in the country. Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) instead show the number of Hass avocado seedlings it has distributed since 2020.
Additionally, there is no consistent data from the government on the total percentage of land area under avocado cultivation. While large scale producers are increasing acreage with avocado, smallholder growers are diversifying into avocado farming in earnest. Based on this trend, the number of avocados produced in Uganda is expected to keep going up in the coming years.
Uganda’s Avocado Market Report 2023
Uganda is among the top 10 largest exporting countries in Africa. It is emerging as a main avocado exporter in the world. Aside from that, more countries are opening up to avocados from Uganda.
Here are biggest importers of Uganda avocados in 2021 with their import volume.
Over the past decade, avocado exports from Uganda have enjoyed steady growth. In 2020, Uganda shipped out nearly 470 tons of avocado. It is at the same level as the previous year.
Here is the export volume of avocados from Uganda between 2013 and 2020.
Exports of avocado from Uganda were valued at nearly 300,000 US Dollars in 2020. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 38%. The sharpest climb was from 2013 to 2014 when the export value rose from about 5,000 US Dollars to around 21,000 US Dollars.
Here are the total values in export of avocados from Uganda between 2013 and 2020.
Exporting Avocados from Kenya
Here is a top avocado exporter in Kenya.
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of avocados and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Kenyan avocados. We source avocados from our company farm and partner farms.
We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.
We use a modern grading machine to achieve desired avocado weight. The fruit is also graded to eliminate any with physical quality defects.
We pack avocado fruit for both air and sea freights. All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.