Cocoa sales to jump 60%
May 04, 2004
Cocoa exports are projected to hit 7,300 tonnes in 2007, up from 4,500 tonnes last year as a result of an accelerated planting programme, the agriculture ministry’s cocoa project coordinator, John Muwanga has said.
By Kiganda Ssonko
Cocoa exports are projected to hit 7,300 tonnes in 2007, up from 4,500 tonnes last year as a result of an accelerated planting programme, the agriculture ministry’s cocoa project coordinator, John Muwanga has said.
“In 2001, Government embarked on both the poverty action plan and strategic export programme. Under these arrangements, we set a target of planting 13,788 hectares of cocoa in various parts of Uganda,†he said in an interview recently.
“We have managed to plant 4,884 hectares in three years and we are remaining with 8,904 hectares. We shall give out more cocoa seedlings to farmers to raise production in order to produce 7,300 metric tonnes by 2007,†he said.
Muwanga said every year the Government injects sh300m to cocoa production which is used to buy seedlings given to farmers in the 16 districts where the cash crop is grown prominently.
He said Uganda’s cocoa exports had been doing well in the last four years.
“In 2002, Uganda exported 4,200 metric tonnes, earning $7.1m. In 2003, we exported 4,500 metric tonnes that earned $7.2m and we hope to export 5,000 metric tonnes this year generating $7.5m,†Muwanga said.
He said export quantities were projected to increase by about 30% in 2007.
He said Uganda’s cocoa was on a high demand in US, UK, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Kenya among others.
“For years, these countries have been taking our cocoa. The only challenge we have is to increase production to exploit such markets to full capacity and earn higher revenue,†he said.
Muwanga advised Ugandans to adopt the growing of cocoa because it is profitable and sustainable.
“Production per hectare is 1000kgs on average. In terms of labour, a hectare of cocoa requires 25.7 man days a year compared to 93.7 man days of robust coffee,†he said.
Cocoa exports are projected to hit 7,300 tonnes in 2007, up from 4,500 tonnes last year as a result of an accelerated planting programme, the agriculture ministry’s cocoa project coordinator, John Muwanga has said.
“In 2001, Government embarked on both the poverty action plan and strategic export programme. Under these arrangements, we set a target of planting 13,788 hectares of cocoa in various parts of Uganda,†he said in an interview recently.
“We have managed to plant 4,884 hectares in three years and we are remaining with 8,904 hectares. We shall give out more cocoa seedlings to farmers to raise production in order to produce 7,300 metric tonnes by 2007,†he said.
Muwanga said every year the Government injects sh300m to cocoa production which is used to buy seedlings given to farmers in the 16 districts where the cash crop is grown prominently.
He said Uganda’s cocoa exports had been doing well in the last four years.
“In 2002, Uganda exported 4,200 metric tonnes, earning $7.1m. In 2003, we exported 4,500 metric tonnes that earned $7.2m and we hope to export 5,000 metric tonnes this year generating $7.5m,†Muwanga said.
He said export quantities were projected to increase by about 30% in 2007.
He said Uganda’s cocoa was on a high demand in US, UK, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Kenya among others.
“For years, these countries have been taking our cocoa. The only challenge we have is to increase production to exploit such markets to full capacity and earn higher revenue,†he said.
Muwanga advised Ugandans to adopt the growing of cocoa because it is profitable and sustainable.
“Production per hectare is 1000kgs on average. In terms of labour, a hectare of cocoa requires 25.7 man days a year compared to 93.7 man days of robust coffee,†he said.