Fresh vegetable vendors appeal for storage facilities

By Prossy Nandudu

Nakawa market vendors dealing in fresh fruits and vegetables have appealed to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support them with storage facilities.

This, they say will prevent their produce from rotting and picking up dirt from the ground.

The vendors made the appeal to FAO permanent representatives who have been in the country on a three-day visit, headed by the FAO representative in Uganda, Alhaji Jallow.

The six representatives were in the country on a fact finding mission about FAO performance and the impact of their support in areas of value addition and support to communities in rural areas.


FAO country representatives, Alhaji Jallow (R) and a colleague listen to the Chairman of Nakawa market, Charles Okuni(C) as he explains to the team about some of the problems they face in the market.

Through their chairman, Charles Okuni, vendors said they lack storage facilities and cold rooms to keep their perishable products fresh.

Okuni added that vendors have also not been helped to learn some of the techniques that could be employed to add values to fruits and vegetables.

He added that sometimes not all the vegetables are sold in a single day. 

The also keep the produce on bare ground which increases chances of contamination especially during the rainy season and this also affects quality.

 "Because of the poor handling of the fresh produce, the quality of the product is affected and this means that they cannot compete in the export market with neighboring countries," said Okuni.

The FAO country Representative, Alhaji Jallow promised to table the issue to the representatives so that they can come up with appropriate interventions.


Some of the FAO officials at a grains store in Nakawa market