The government through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) injected Shs3.5 billion into the second phase of the construction works at the mango processing factory in Yumbe district.
The factory is to start production in 2022.
The second phase will involve external works (fencing of the facility and paving and landscaping of the compound), constructing the raw materials sorting store, the packaging store, the guardhouse and the weighbridge.
“With the completion of the external works during the second phase, the factory will be in position to begin production, mainly producing pulp from local mangoes”, said Eng. Michael Shuwu, the NAADS Value Chain Development Officer coordinated the construction of the factory.
NAADS has contracted a construction company to finalize the external works of the factory which are expected to be completed in July 2022.
The Executive Director NAADS Dr. Samuel Mugasi says 90% of the works in phase one have been completed with the processing equipment fully installed and tested, and main factory building completed.
The government has so far injected over Shs10 billion in this project.
Yumbe Mango Processing factory is being constructed in partnership with Food and Nutrition Solutions Ltd (FONUS), Aringa Mango Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Uganda Development Corporation (UDC).
It is a fulfillment of President Museveni's pledge made during the West Nile Centenary celebrations to support FONUS, a company started by Makerere University Professors in Food Science -- to complete the project.
The 5 metric ton per hour factory is designed based on the local mangoes grown in the West Nile region and a ready market for the farmers.
The establishment of the factory is intended to diminish the hefty post-harvest losses and to the exploitation of farmers by the middlemen who buy the mangoes cheaply.
"Upon commencement of production, UDC will ensure smooth commercial operations and management of the fruit factory in collaboration with FONUS, and Aringa Fruit Farmers’ Cooperative Society Ltd as well as to oversee the smooth transition of Government’s stake (divestiture period and process) in the project to the private sector," NAADS said in a statement.
"In 2019, Government through NAADS signed an MOU committing to contribute the resources for the establishment of the factory, provide production and productivity-enhancing technologies such as seedlings, and other technologies to the target farmers, contract service providers for the establishment of the mango processing factory. NAADS also committed to supervising and monitoring the project and overseeing the transition of the government’s stake in the project to the farmers."
