Britania earmarks sh10b for fruit centres

May 21, 2009

BRITANIA Allied Industries has earmarked sh10b for fruit processing plants in Teso region and Luweero districts, the chairman, Hasmukh Dawda, has said.

By Patrick Jaramogi

BRITANIA Allied Industries has earmarked sh10b for fruit processing plants in Teso region and Luweero districts, the chairman, Hasmukh Dawda, has said.

“We have conducted a study and know the potential of the soils in Soroti and Luweero. We shall set up modern fruit processing plants once the mangoes and oranges have been grown,” Dawda told over 100 farmers from Luweero and Soroti at the firm’s factory in Ntinda, Kampala.

“Uganda depends primarily on agriculture for income generation and food security. Given the enabling environment and fertile soils, the country can do well,” he said.

Dawda said Britania, which manufactures mango, orange, pineapple, guava and apple juices, would boost local production by sensitising farmers about quality production.

“Once you have grown good mangoes, we shall install the fruit processing plants near your farms to ease transport costs and raise your earnings,” he promised.

Dawda told the over 300 farmers that some of them would be taken to India to learn how mangoes are grown and harvested. India is the leading exporter of Alphonse mango pulp in the world.

He said Britania had set aside sh12b this year for purchase of fruits locally.
“We can spend between sh12 and sh15b on local fruits if the right quality and quantities are guaranteed by the farmers.”

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