Kakooza seeking his fortune in cinnamon

By Umar Nsubuga

A group of five men came to Twaha Kakooza's home in Bubajjwe village in Kayunga district. They went to buy garlic from him and noticed cinnamon trees surrounding his gardens which he had planted to protect his farm and also to spice tea.

These people begged Kakooza to sell them some seedlings, so that they don't return to their homes empty handed, someone had promised these people large quantities of cinnamon, only to disappoint them.

Kakooza agreed to sell them one tree at sh120,000. "If you can grow this cinnamon on a large scale, you will make a fortune out of it", one of these men advised Kakooza.

"Does budalasini have a lot of demand?" Kakooza asked them. "Oh yes, there is an export market mainly in Tanzania, India and many countries in the Middle East", they explained adding that its supply was too low to meet the demand worldwide.

 Cinnamon is an ever green tree that grows up to 50-feet tall. It was originally grown in southern India and Sri Lanka.

Today, it is commercially grown in Brazil, Madagascar, Zanzibar and now Uganda.

Kakooza's start
Following the group's advice Kakooza started growing cinnamon on a large scale on two acres. He started by looking for more seedlings in different countries like Zanzibar, South Africa, Madagascar and planted whatever seedlings he found.

"At first, I lost a lot of seedling as they would dry up under direct sunshine. I did not know the seedlings needed a shade.
When I discovered it, I started inter-cropping the cinnamon with graviola (kitafeli", Kakooza recalls. "So, I first put the seedlings in a nursery bed and only transfer them to the field during the rainy season."

"Right now, I have about 900 cinnamon trees different varieties, aroma and taste. They are planted on about two acres. "I don't fertilise them with anything and cinnamon does not need a swampy area", says Kakooza.

He adds that he plans to plant other cinnamon varieties with big barks because it is so productive.

Challenges  
One of the biggest challenges I face are the birds that feed on the firsts", says Kakooza.

The other challenge is diseases, such as the leaf spot and die back diseases that are caused by colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

There is also grey blight caused by pestalotiosis  palmarum and sooty mould caused by phragmocapinus beetle. These are the common diseases of cinnamon.

Spraying 1% Bordeaux mixture will control the diseases.

Selling cinnamon
High quality grade cinnamon receives a premium price nn the market.

Cinnamon oils are separated by steam or hydro distillation.

One kilo gram of dried cinnamon seeds is sold between sh3,000-3,500, bark or leaves cost sh4,000-4,500 seedlings cost sh3,000 per kilo.

Cinnamon is supplied to various super markets in Uganda and some is also exported.

Uses
Cinnamon is a modifier in the flavouring industry.

The bark is also used to treat digestive problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest pain, menstrual problems, backaches, cold and arthritis.

For its ability to kill bacteria cinnamon is used in toothpaste.

Mouth wash and oral hygiene products.