HORTICULTURAL EXPORTS: Direct gov’t support still critical
Uganda’s lack of a domestic value chain for horticultural exporters continues to hurt small businesses who continue to urge the government to quickly put up modern pack houses and consolidate rapid sector growth. Last week, British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda, Dollar Popat, urged Uganda Airlines to haul at least 10 tons of agricultural goods to the United Kingdom on a weekly basis, giving assurance of the market. But local exporters say without targeted investments in the horticultural sub-sector, which to-date returns about $70 million dollars in exports of fruit and vegetables.