JINJA CITY, February 27, 2026 — Hass avocado farmers under the Busoga Avocado Farmers Cooperative Union [BAFCU] are counting losses after most of their produce failed to meet export standards, following a three-year investment.
BAFCU Chairperson, Phyllis Joy Mukaire, said the cooperative contributed to Uganda’s Hass avocado exports between November 2024 and January 2026. However, about 70 per cent of the fruit was rejected for failing to meet the required quality standards.
According to Mukaire, farmers harvested approximately 28 tonnes of Hass avocados between April and December 2025, but the majority did not qualify for export. First-grade fruit fetches between Shs 2,500 and Shs 3,000 per kilogramme, while second-grade produce sells for about Shs 800 per kilogramme.
She added that some farmers are being exploited by middlemen and large oil-processing companies that dictate prices, leaving growers demoralised.
“A farmer maintains the orchard for three years, yet market arrangements favour middlemen who collect the fruit in a single day and pay very little,” she said.
Mukaire noted that Hass avocado farming requires substantial capital investment in fertilisers, labour, security and irrigation.
However, to minimise losses, some farmers have begun exploring value addition initiatives, including the extraction of virgin avocado oil, processing avocado paste and powder, and converting testas and seeds into compost, briquettes and other products.
The cooperative is also seeking investment in branding, marketing and technical support to meet international standards such as GlobalGAP certification.
BAFCU has partnered with organisations including SunCulture and the Balaji Agronomy Department to strengthen extension services, solar-powered irrigation, traceability systems, pest control and export compliance.
BAFCU Vice Chairperson George Inyensiko said Hass avocado remains a highly promising crop due to its high oil content, long shelf life and strong international demand.
He noted that Uganda’s neighbours such as Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, lead in avocado exports, but said Uganda could catch up through improved quality and increased production. He added that an acre of Hass avocado can earn a farmer up to Shs 10 million per year.
Inyensiko described Hass avocado farming as a long-term investment, observing that the trees can continue bearing fruit for more than 50 years. He added that BAFCU has the potential to export to markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Wambuzi, Jinja City Commercial Officer, urged individual Hass avocado farmers to join cooperatives to strengthen production, marketing and collective bargaining. “You cannot supply a 40-foot container as an individual, but through a cooperative, it is achievable,” he said.
Founded in 2020 with more than 280 members drawn from the districts of Iganga, Luuka, Kamuli and Jinja, BAFCU supports over 3,000 households. The cooperative currently cultivates more than 700 acres of Hass avocado and plans to double its acreage in the coming years.
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