In Kayunga district, more than 2,000 farmers are transforming surplus and perishable fruits into dried and packaged products, significantly reducing post-harvest losses and creating new income streams. This shift is part of a broader agro-processing initiative that leverages solar-powered drying technology and other equipment to convert fruits like bananas, pineapples, jackfruit, and mangoes into dried banana chips, juices, and wines.
Extending Shelf Life, Cutting Waste
By processing the fruits, farmers can extend their shelf life to 12 months or longer, ensuring that produce that would otherwise spoil during peak harvest seasons is preserved and sold later. This not only minimizes waste but also stabilizes income for farming households.
Yahaya Wafana, general secretary of the Kangulumira Area Cooperative Enterprise (KACE), explained that the cooperative has 2,447 members, mostly organic farmers organized into 24 groups, each specializing in different fruit enterprises. "We are not just reducing waste; we are creating value and improving livelihoods," Wafana said.
Inclusive Participation
The cooperative also places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, actively promoting the participation of women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in its leadership structures. This approach ensures that the benefits of agro-processing are shared widely across the community.
The initiative is a beacon of hope for smallholder farmers in Uganda, demonstrating how simple technologies can drive sustainable development and food security. As the farmers continue to embrace value addition, they are not only curbing food waste but also building a more resilient and profitable agricultural sector.
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