GULU – Gulu University is stuck with 11 tons of mango juice over limited markets in Acholi Sub Region.
The University with support from Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) acquired a mobile juice processing plant from Makerere University in June this year.
The University juice processing pilot study saw 20 tons of the mango juice produced in June; 9 tons have gone into the market while 11 more tons are still stocked.
Dr. Collins Okello, the Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Environment at the university told the Parliamentary Committee for Covid-19 who visited the University on last Friday.
Okello explained that the limited market is threatening the university which could lose over 70 million within the next three months if the product fails to navigate its juice markets.
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“The preservation is only best within three months and we expect to sell them if we are to avoid losses but the challenge again comes with limited markets” Okello added.
He described the initiative as a step towards the food processing industry that the university looks forward to establish in the future and asked the government to support the production.
“Many of the local farmers who did not have a market for their mango fruits got access to a bigger market with the university and the support is viable” Okello added.
Okello, however asked both the government and the private partners to invest in food processing plants in the region; a move he says will boost commercial viability of the locals.
The University Vice Chancellor George Openjuru Ladaa, however explained that the University is focusing on research for transforming the livelihoods of the Community.
The Labwor County Member of Parliament (MP), Noman Ochero who doubles as a member of the Parliamentary Health Committee has asked the government to prioritize support for research and innovations for study with solution-based approaches in the country.
However, the juice processor which was piloted was able to produce 30 tons of mango fruits while a kilogram of mango went to 500 shillings which is opposed to the previous sale of 500 shilling per basin.
Alfred Okwonga, the Gulu City Council Mayor guaranteed the land acquisition by the university for its expansion which had stalled for nearly 20 years.
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