Blog

Growing Hass Avocado In Uganda

Hass Avocado farming is worth everybody’s investment who thinks of farming as a business regardless of how much your job pays you since it’s less risky, has very low-cost input, low maintenance, and is readily available market worldwide!

Hass avocados mature after 2 years and a single mature tree can produce more than 3000 (500kgs) fruits under good agronomic management practices. An Acre requires 166 trees at maximum, on planting spacing of 6x4m of which the production estimate is over 450,000 fruits (75,000kgs). Although avocados are fairly resistant to drought, well-distributed rainfall of between 1000-1200mm is adequate for proper crop development. They also require well-drained soils to avoid root rot. The best soils are sandy or alluvial loams with pH ranging from 5 – 7.

Hass Avocado Production

A mature Hass tree produces up to 3000 (500kgs) fruits per year and the currently available farm gate market price offered by the biggest Kenyan fruit exporter is UGX550/= per fruit/ UGX3300/= per kilogram. Therefore a single Hass Tree will generate at least UGX1,650,000/= every year. And an acre UGX247,500,000/= every year.

The direct export market chain currently offers $2 (UGX7200/=) per kilogram. Per tree UGX3,600,000/=. At acreage UGX540,000,000/= per year. And the market price is expected to rise because of high demand with limited supply.

Hass Avocado Establishment Costs.

An acre requires 160 seedlings, and the cost of a seedling is 5,000shs, so the total cost of seedlings is UGX800,000/=.

Pitting & planting, each hole of 2x2ft costs between 500-800shs depending on the cost of labor as per location, let us take UGX800/=, which will total UGX128,000/=.

Bush Clearing an acre ranges between UGX80,000/= to UGX150,000/=

Fertilizer application at planting is UGX24,000/=, 2nd application after 6 months UGX48,000/=

The above costs are calculated based on a one-acre establishment.

Climate & Soils

Considering all the top 10 HASS Avocado producing and exporting countries, Uganda has the best soils and climate for the HASS Avocado crop. Take a look at this documentary from Chile, the 2nd world producer, and exporter, it is 30% a desert with the hottest place on the earth, the Atacama Desert, Israel is equally a big exporter, with 60% of its land as a desert.

PLANTING SEASONS /TIMING/SEEDLINGS BOOKING

Uganda, as a Country has 2 planting seasons, the 1st usually stretches from February-June across the country, while it may start at the end of February in the central region, it may start in March, April, etc, in other parts of the Country. The 2nd planting season in different parts of the Country starts in July and stretches to December, but sets off differently across the Country. All in all, the best planting season for Perennial crops is the 1st season, this helps the plants to enjoy both the 1st and 2nd rains, which helps the plant to establish very well.

To plant at the onset of the 1st RAINS, in February, March, and April, you need to prepare the land early, no need for ploughing, if you’re not going to plant other crops, remember at the spacing of 6x4m, you can inter-crop your garden up to 6 years. For those who have ready financial resources, you can prepare the land and dig the holes in the October-December rains, and apply manure in the dry season when it is available e.g. Cow Dung, Goat droppings, kindly don’t use chicken manure.

Ordering seedlings, we usually take orders 3 months before the planting season for those who really need mature seedlings which are well established. Early booking attracts a huge discount at UGX4,000/= per seedling, while the pick-and-pay price is UGX6,000/= per seedling.

Do you want to place your orders for next season’s planting, kindly contact us on 0703-889833  |  0785-729532  |  0780-324551 WHATSAPP: 0726212579, or visit our offices at Legacy House – Kitoro, Kibuli, Opposite CIID Small Gate or drop us an email at info@ecilug.com OR Visit our page at ECIL UG