Aloe Vera goes commercial
ABOUT 120,000 farmers around the country have received and planted Aloe Vera (locally called ekigajju) plantlets, bringing Uganda closer to penetrating the international market with this highly profitable crop.
By Ricks Kayizzi
ABOUT 120,000 farmers around the country have received and planted Aloe Vera (locally called ekigajju) plantlets, bringing Uganda closer to penetrating the international market with this highly profitable crop.
Aloe Vera is used in the manufacture of cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, fertilisers and others.
Walugembe-Musoke, the chairman of Uganda Aloe Vera Growing Association, said the body invested sh210m in the new crop with farmers from about 20 districts.
A consignment of about 190,000 plantlets, which are sold at sh1,500 per piece had been obtained from the Southern Aloe Vera Pty, a US-based firm.
“We want all peasant farmers to take it on as an effective weapon to defeat the wide spread poverty,†Musoke said.
He said, “Our mission is to contribute to the economic development of Uganda through establishment of commercial plantations of Aloe Vera and related industries as a means of providing an alternative income generating activity to the rural communities.â€
Musoke said after 24 months, a farmer can harvest sh200m from a hectare of Aloe Vera.
He said they were targeting markets in USA and Europe for the crop which can be harvested up to 4 times a year.
Harvesting and exporting of Aoe Vera is likely to start late next year.
That will mark the country’s entrance into commercial growing of Aloe Vera.
The Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, launched commercial growing of the crop at Old Kampala last year.
ABOUT 120,000 farmers around the country have received and planted Aloe Vera (locally called ekigajju) plantlets, bringing Uganda closer to penetrating the international market with this highly profitable crop.
Aloe Vera is used in the manufacture of cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, fertilisers and others.
Walugembe-Musoke, the chairman of Uganda Aloe Vera Growing Association, said the body invested sh210m in the new crop with farmers from about 20 districts.
A consignment of about 190,000 plantlets, which are sold at sh1,500 per piece had been obtained from the Southern Aloe Vera Pty, a US-based firm.
“We want all peasant farmers to take it on as an effective weapon to defeat the wide spread poverty,†Musoke said.
He said, “Our mission is to contribute to the economic development of Uganda through establishment of commercial plantations of Aloe Vera and related industries as a means of providing an alternative income generating activity to the rural communities.â€
Musoke said after 24 months, a farmer can harvest sh200m from a hectare of Aloe Vera.
He said they were targeting markets in USA and Europe for the crop which can be harvested up to 4 times a year.
Harvesting and exporting of Aoe Vera is likely to start late next year.
That will mark the country’s entrance into commercial growing of Aloe Vera.
The Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, launched commercial growing of the crop at Old Kampala last year.