Stakeholders convene to chart growth strategy for Uganda’s avocado industry

KAMPALA, June 23, 2026 — Farmers, exporters, processors and government officials have convened in Kampala to develop strategies aimed at strengthening Uganda’s avocado industry and improving its competitiveness in regional and international markets.

The engagement, organised recently by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives [MTIC], focused on addressing persistent challenges affecting the sector while exploring opportunities to increase production, promote value addition and expand export volumes.

Speaking at the meeting in Kampala, the Commissioner for External Trade at MTIC, Cleophas Ndorere, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable avocado industry, stressing that farmers must remain at the centre of policy and regulatory decisions.

“The government remains committed to ensuring that the avocado sector grows in a manner that benefits all stakeholders, particularly farmers who form the backbone of the industry,” Ndorere said.

Stephen Kaheru of the State House Investor Protection Unit highlighted the sector’s significant potential to generate employment, boost export earnings and improve rural livelihoods across the country.

He called for practical and time-bound interventions to address existing bottlenecks in the avocado trade and emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration across the avocado value chain.

Farmers who attended the engagement identified several challenges that continue to constrain sector growth, including limited access to agricultural extension services, inadequate availability of certified seedlings, insufficient aggregation centres, and concerns over pricing and grading systems.

Participants also called for a fair and balanced regulatory framework for cross-border trade and stronger partnerships among farmers, processors, exporters, government agencies and development partners to improve market access and product quality.

Stakeholders agreed that addressing these constraints will be critical to unlocking the full potential of Uganda’s avocado industry and positioning the country as a competitive player in the global avocado market.

The engagement forms part of broader government efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains, promote value addition and enhance export competitiveness as Uganda seeks to diversify its export base and increase income opportunities for farmers.

More about avocado industry in Uganda

Uganda’s avocado industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, shifting from predominantly domestic “jumbo” varieties to export-oriented Hass avocados.

Supported by favourable agro-climatic conditions and two harvest seasons annually, Uganda is scaling up fresh fruit exports to the European Union and Middle East while also growing its avocado oil processing industry.

The government recently launched the Avocado Roadmap and Platform, a strategic initiative designed to accelerate development of the avocado value chain and tap into growing regional and global demand.

The initiative is expected to drive economic growth, create jobs and improve livelihoods, particularly among young people.

With suitable conditions for year-round cultivation of Hass avocados and rising international demand, Uganda is increasingly positioning itself as an emerging supplier in the global avocado market.

In 2023, the country exported avocados worth US$ 5.1 million, mainly to Middle Eastern markets, marking a significant milestone in the sector’s commercial development.

In 2024, the country shipped its first containers of Hass avocados to the European Union, underlining growing international confidence in Uganda’s export potential.

Beyond fresh fruit exports, Uganda’s avocado oil industry has also entered the European market. Five major processing facilities currently operate in the country, using both local avocado varieties and lower-grade Hass avocados for extraction.

While local varieties contain oil content ranging between 3.5 and 7 per cent, Hass avocados yield approximately 10 per cent, making them more efficient for oil production.

Collectively, the facilities process an estimated 63,000 tonnes of fresh avocados annually and produce about 2.5 million kilogrammes of crude avocado oil, contributing to value addition and agro-industrial development.

Despite this progress, stakeholders noted that challenges remain in scaling production, improving market access and expanding supporting infrastructure.

The Avocado Roadmap

The newly launched Avocado Roadmap seeks to address these issues through a coordinated public-private approach focused on four strategic priorities: increasing production capacity through improved farming practices and access to quality planting materials; strengthening market access by helping producers meet international standards; investing in cold-chain and storage infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses; and enhancing collaboration among government, private sector and development partners to accelerate sector growth.

https://thecooperator.news/gulu-avocado-cooperative-elects-new-leadership-to-steer-its-growth/

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