NAADS: Over 100,000 Farmers Benefit From New Strategy To Grow Hass Avocado and Macadamia

The National Agricultural Advisory Services- NAADS’ has added two high-value crops; macadamia nuts, and avocado to boost household incomes and exports for the country.

Since the addition of the two crops in August 2022, up to 137,031 seedlings of Macadamia have been distributed by only two nucleus farmers; 1,827 acres of farmland have been established, and over 3,000 farmers have benefited.

According to Khadijah Nakakande, the NAADS Public Relations Officer, the two crops have economic potential because of  global demand and their multiple importance. She says so far, over 100,000 farmers have established orchards on a total acreage of 5,340 hectares.

“For Hass avocado, over 100,000 farmers have established orchards on a total acreage of 5,340 hectares,  and a total production of 47 million kilograms annually,” says Khadijah Nakakande the NAADS Public Relations Officer.

Nakakande says the nucleus farmers produce quality planting material is given to willing and interested out growers in a cost-sharing arrangement, to  provide extension services alongside the government’s staff,  and also buy the produce of these out growers.

“To ensure ownership and sustainability,  participating farmers who desire to take the seedlings under this intervention contribute 30% of the cost of the seedling, while the government through NAADS contributes 70% in line with the current government strategic direction of cost-sharing by beneficiary farmers,” Khadijah explains.

In a field visit to assess the performance of the strategy, several out-growers and nucleus farmers in the districts of Kabarole,  Kitagwenda, Mityana, and Mayuge, were assessed.

Under this strategy, NAADS doesnt work through local government structures, but an integrated value chain approach and participation of farmers through an out growers’ scheme and/ or any other nucleus farmer-farmer/producer outreach modality.

This is intended to enable access to relevant agricultural support services like quality agricultural inputs, extension, research and technology, storage, processing and value addition, market information and market for produce, finance, and insurance.

Macadamia is believed to be the most expensive and the most popular nut on the world market today, with up to 67 percent oil content,  and is used for confectionery,  baking, ice cream, and as snacks.

Whereas Hass avocado is estimated to account for over 80 percent of the global avocado market. Its demand was valued at USD 12.8 billion, in 2019 and is projected to rise to USD 17.90 billion by 2025.

To boost production, to meet both national and export demands, the government through NAADS, included the two crops onto the high-value plants that required specialized interventions to ensure increased household incomes, and this financial year, up to 20.5 billion shillings were allocated for this purpose.