Pawpaw is a common tree fruit grown in most parts of Uganda, however, very few farmers are growing it commercially.

In Uganda, it is commonly called pawpaw or papaali however, it is also called papaya.

Pawpaw is a widely cultivated fruit tree in the tropics like Uganda and subtropics like the far east.  

This is large because of its many uses. While most people in Uganda consume it directly as a fruit, it can be used to make fruit salads, refreshing drinks, jam, jelly, marmalade, candies, and crystallized fruits.  

In some countries, green fruits are pickled or cooked as a vegetable.

At the moment, the price of a pawpaw in urban markets ranges between sh2,000 for the smallest to sh7,000 for the biggest.

“The market is good especially if the fruits are large and sweet,” says Christine Nakuya who sells paw paw at Kalerwe market.

To grow an acre of pawpaw, a farmer needs between 500 to 700 seedlings. Each good seedling costs sh1,500. This means that a farmer spends sh750,000 to sh1,050,000 on seedlings. A hole can be dug at sh500 which means that a farmer spends sh350,000 on this activity.

To fertilize the land, you need at least 70kgs of NPK and 70kgs of CAN and this costs sh300,000. During early days, you need to weed to keep off grasses too.  Generally, you would be spending at least sh200,000 on maintenance of the farm. After six months, yields will start.  On harvest, each tree can give as many as 40 fruits per year. 40x500 equals 20,000 fruits. At a farm gate price of sh1,000 this gives sh20m.

 Suitable Growth Condition

Pawpaw can be grown in any area that has good rainfall.

They thrive in warm areas with adequate rainfall and a temperature range of 21-33°C.

Its altitude range is similar to that of the banana, from sea level to elevations at which frosts occur (often around 1600 m).

However, they grow best in areas below 1000 m.

The quality and yield are low at higher altitudes. In places like Kapchorwa and Kabale that sometimes get chilly, pawpaw will therefore not perform well.

This is because very cold weather can kill the plant, and cool and overcast weather delays fruit ripening and depresses fruit quality. Fruit tastes much better when grown during a warm sunny season.

An evenly distributed annual rainfall of 1200 mm is sufficient if water conservation practices are employed. This means that areas like Masaka, Luwero, Mukono, Busoga, Bunyoro and Hoima, Mubende, Mityana, the North, West Nile can ably take pawpaws.

Papaya grows best in light, well-drained soils rich in organic matter with a soil pH of 6.0-6.5. It can tolerate any kind of soil provided it is well-drained and not too dry. The roots are very sensitive to waterlogging and even short periods of flooding can kill the plants.

 Planting

Papaya is propagated by seed. To reproduce the desired characteristics it is best to get seeds through controlled pollination. Use of sterilized soil minimizes losses resulting from nematodes and damping-off fungi. Germination takes 2-3 weeks.

Another practice is to sow the seeds in sterilized nursery beds and to prick out at the 2-3-leaf stage, transferring 3-4 seedlings to each container. Seedlings are transplanted about 2 months after sowing when they reach the 3-4-leaf stage or 20 cm height, preferably at the onset of the rainy season.

During transplanting, take care not to disturb the roots. Older seedlings recover poorly after planting out. Papaya needs adequate drainage and is often planted on mounds or ridges.

To grow an acre of pawpaw, a farmer needs between 500 to 700 seedlings. Each good seedling costs sh1,500. This means that a farmer spends sh750,000 to sh1,050,000 on seedlings. A hole can be dug at sh500 which means that a farmer spends sh350,000 on this activity.

To fertilize the land, you need at least 70kgs of NPK and 70kgs of CAN and this costs sh300,000. During early days, you need to weed to keep off grasses too.  Generally, you would be spending at least sh200,000 on maintenance of the farm. After six months, yields will start.  On harvest, each tree can give as many as 40 fruits per year. 40x500 equals 20,000 fruits. At a farm gate price of sh1,000 this gives sh20m.

Transplants must be watered regularly until they are established. Field spacing are in the order of 3 x 2 m to 2.50 x 1.60 m, giving densities of 1667 and 2500 plants/ha respectively.

Thinning to one female or one hermaphrodite plant per hill is done when the plants reach the flowering stage. In the absence of hermaphrodite plants, 1 male plant per 25 – 100 female plants is retained as pollinator.

Pawpaw plants grown from seed produce fruits of different shapes, sizes, colour, and even taste. Vegetative propagation of papaya provides a solution to most of these problems.

The clone is selected for higher productivity and good quality fruits besides agronomic qualities such as dwarfness for easy harvesting and good resistance to diseases.

Planting holes of 2*2*2 ft are prepared with 1 bucket of compost and are mixed in with the dugout soil and returned around the plant. Firm the soil and water liberally and add mulch around the young plant. The farmer can choose to grow the crops conventionally or do organic farming.

 Intercropping

Pawpaw grows best when planted in full sunlight. However, it can be planted as an inter- crop under coconut, or as a cash crop between young fruit trees such as mango or citrus. Low growing annual crops such as capsicums, beans, onions and cabbages are suitable good inter crops.

Harvesting

The stage of physiological development at the time of harvest determines the flavor and taste of the ripened fruit. The fruit matures at 9 months after transplanting.

The appearance of traces of yellow colour on the fruit indicates that it is ready for harvesting. Fruits harvested early have longer post-harvest life, but give abnormal taste and flavor.

The fruits also tend to shrivel and suffer chilling injuries when refrigerated. The fruit is twisted until the stalk snaps off or cut with a sharp knife.

Yields per tree vary from 75 to 150 fruits annually, giving 35 to 50 tons of fruit per ha per year. Pawpaw plantation can be productive for over 10 years but the economical period is only the first 3 to 4 years. It is therefore advisable to renew the plantation every 4 years.

Compiled by Joshua Kato and Oxfarm farm, growers of pawpaw