Uganda to ship its First ever Avocado container.
HortiFresh and the avocado associations held a follow-up meeting to discuss an initiative for sea freight of avocado containers from Uganda to international markets. In this pioneering stage, at least four containers are set to be shipped within three months to Spain, Dubai, Germany, and Italy.
The meeting, held at the HortiFresh Association in Mengo, Kampala, convened avocado farmers, exporters, value-addition companies, and logistical experts. Stakeholders called for collective efforts to ensure the success of this project and invited everyone to witness the first container, which will be flagged off on September 21st , 2024.
Mr. Hani Dahlan, the CEO of Avotein Farms Limited, whose container is awaiting shipment, explained their program for harvesting, transporting, sorting, and flagging the container to its destination in Spain. Hani is eager to see the success of this first-ever sea shipment to set the pace for Uganda’s avocado industry, hoping to fulfill his client’s demand of at least two containers per month.
A week after Avotein’s shipment, a container from Agricado Farms, led by the company director Ms. Aliya Hajee, will follow. Aliya is confident that there is an international market for avocados and encouraged all exporters to schedule their shipping dates carefully to avoid a sourcing crisis. “We are going to make Hass a product from Uganda,” she concluded.
The shipping company MAERSK, represented by Kyomuhendo Flavia, will handle the inaugural logistical activities. According to her, avocados have been tested for 42 days of travel to ensure safe arrival. She further advised all exporters to consult before confirming orders due to challenges in the Red Sea, which may prevent direct shipments to some countries.
Similar shipments have occurred four times in Rwanda and frequently in Kenya, offering valuable lessons that may support the success of Uganda’s shipments.
Richard Ssebulime
