Limited direct cargo flights and cold chain thwart horticultural exports from Uganda

Industry experts claim that a lack of proper cold chain facilities and limited direct cargo flights…

Industry experts claim that a lack of proper cold chain facilities and limited direct cargo flights -among other hindrances- are stalling the growth of Uganda's horticulture business and exports.

Despite Uganda’s ability to produce a wide range of horticultural crops, the export business is still low. This, in turn, is largely due to the lack of reinforced cold chain through the production, storage and distribution stages.

Representatives of various horticulture companies, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, among other stakeholders, voiced their concerns yesterday during a European Union-MAAIF engagement that attracted sector players from across the country.

Fred Zake, the executive Director of Hortifresh, a business membership organization for fresh fruit and vegetable sector, said the lack of direct cargo flights to the EU -which is the biggest market for horticulture produce- raises the cost of transportation and also reduces the shelf life of the highly perishable goods.