Ntungamo Farmers Optimistc as First Lady Launches Pineapple Factory
Ntungamo: First lady Janet Museveni has advised farmers in the country to embark on value addition if they are to realize more benefits from Agriculture.
Mrs. Museveni was on Monday evening speaking that the opening of pineapple juice processing factory at Nyamukana in Nyamukana town council Ntungamo district.
The shs.1.4 billion factory has the capacity to process 700 pineapples and produce over 1000 litters in an hour and can absorb a total of 5600 pineapples a day.
Established by the Uganda Industrial Research Institute(UIRI), the factory is expected to operate 8 hours a day, and will be managed and operated by Nyakihanga Fruits and Vegetable Grower’s Co-operative society.
Urging farmers to seize the opportunity presented by the factory, the First Lady challenged farmers to shun old farming practices that deplete the soil through soil erosion and exhaustion, to be able to produce pineapples all year round and be able to sustain the factory’s demand.
“The President has been talking about creating wealth and raising household incomes. This is now your opportunity. Take advantage of this factory,” she urged.
Flanking the First lady, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye applauded UIRU for its work in standardizing industrial output, arguing that quality standards have been the biggest challenge for Ugandan industrial products.
