Uganda's farms are very small with av. farm size 0.97ha and the account for 84 percent of all agricultural land. Women provide agricultural labor force but do not have access and control over all land and productive resources. Hass avocado production presents an opportunity for women to equitable use the family land and access income. A mature Hass tree(2.5yrs) produces up to 500kgs/year and the current available farm gate market price $0.8/kg. 160 trees in an acre generate $ 60,000/year.
The vast majority of the Uganda's farms are small or very small with average farm size 0.97(ha) and the account for 84 percent of all agricultural land. Women are the backbone of the development of rural and national economies. They comprise 63% of the Uganda's agricultural labor force but do not have access and control over all land and productive resources. Therefore, Hass avocado production presents an opportunity for women to equitable use the family land and hence access income.
Hass avocado farming is worth investment. It's less risky, very low cost input, low maintenance and ready available market worldwide. Hass avocados mature after 2 years and a single mature tree can produce more than 3000(500kgs) fruits under good management practices. An Acre requires 160 trees at spacing of 6mx6m of which production estimate is over 450,000fruits(75,000kgs). The project intend to generate and distribute seedlings covering 200 acres of women led and managed smallholder farms.
A mature Hass tree produces up to 3000(500kgs) fruits per year and the current available farm gate market price offered by the biggest Uganda fruits exporter is $0.13 per fruit/ $0.8 per kilogram. Therefore, a single Hass tree will generate in $400/ every year, hence an acre $ 60,000/per annum. However, direct export markets currently offer is $2 per kilogram that is approximately $1,000 per tree, giving $150,000 per acre per year. The long term is to empower over 300 households (2,100 people)
