The avocado craze has taken over the world and it looks like its not ending anytime soon. There is a general desire in many countries to eat healthier. Even in Uganda, avocado-eating is at an all-time high.
The global trend of avocado consumption shows that it is rising. Avocado markets like the Asia-Pacific market are growing from small-time players to big-time avocado importers. While the biggest avocado markets, the United States (US) and Europe, are still setting record-breaking volumes of avocado imports.
As of 2020, the global avocado market was valued at US9.14 billion dollars. The channels of distribution from avocado producing countries like Uganda are improving and therefore pushing forward the avocado market.
Avocado Season in Uganda
Nowadays, avocado season seems like it never ends. But in Uganda there is a peak and off-peak season for avocados. Depending on the time of the year, avocados in Uganda can either travel a short distance or a longer distance from the farms to the markets. In Uganda, avocados are in bulk from March to September.
Avocado Supply Chain in Uganda
Most of the avocados produced in Uganda by smallholder farmers are consumed locally. After harvest, part of the produce is transported to rural markets for consumers who live nearby. The other part of the produce ends up in bigger urban markets.
Wholesalers and traders take advantage of the open-air markets that are organized once or twice a week. They play a key role in linking avocado growers to urban consumers. This is because most of the avocado producers in Uganda are in rural areas.
The major domestic markets for avocados grown in Uganda are found in Kampala District, Central Region. The biggest markets for locally grown avocados are:
- St Balikuddembe market (Owino market)
- Kalerwe market
- Nakasero market
Avocados are sold in smaller quantities in almost all open-air retail markets, groceries and supermarkets around Uganda.
Avocado Price per kg in Uganda
The average price per kilo for avocados in Uganda is between UGX1,000 and UGX2,000. The wholesale price for avocado is usually about UGX150 per fruit for a large batch of fruits. The retail price is usually from UGX250-UGX350 per fruit.
During the off-peak season the prices of avocados in Uganda skyrocket. The average price of avocados per kilo between October and February is from UGX3,000-UGX5,000. The price of one avocado is between UGX1,000 and UGX1,700.
Local avocado varieties known as Jumbo are preferred by consumers in the domestic market because they are large in size and have high fat content. They are also cheaper than the commercial varieties like Hass.
Factors Affecting Avocado Market in Uganda
The avocado market in Uganda is still very volatile. Here are some of the reasons why the prices of avocado in Uganda experience high fluctuations:
- Lack of post-harvest technology like processing leads to losses. Those avocados that are not sold go bad instead of being processed into other by products such as avocado oil.
- Much of avocado production in Uganda is rain fed and so few farmers harvest rainwater or do irrigation in case of drought or poor rainfall.
- Low yields turn into reduced supply in the market which pushes up prices.
- A lot of wastage due to poor harvesting practices and post-harvest handling leads to huge losses.
- Traders or middlemen who exploit farmers to maximize their own returns affect the entire value chain negatively. Retailers set higher prices for consumers so that they also gain profits.
- Avocado business in Uganda is still highly informal. Buying and selling of avocados is usually done with traditional units both at the farm gate and in the markets.
- Low level of organization of producers in the avocado value chain.