The Ugandan government has commissioned the construction of a perishable cargo handling centre at Entebbe airport that should improve the quality of fresh produce exports. The $10 million solar-powered hi-tech facility is expected to pre-test fresh produce such as flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers. David Bahati, State Minister for Trade, said the cold storage facility will be a game changer for Uganda's horticulture sector.
Minister Bahati: “As we speak, our export value stands at $5.4 billion and our import value stands at $7 billion. So as a country, we have a trade deficit. And one of the reasons why we can't export more has been lack of facilities like these."
Statistics indicate that Uganda's horticulture exports are worth about $35 million per year, making Uganda the second-largest producer of fresh fruits and vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria. However, only about 20 percent of horticultural production is exported.
"Horticulture plays an important role in the economic landscape of our country. It stands as the fourth most important export sector, trading only behind coffee, fish and fish products, and dairy. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the challenge that the sector has faced, including issues related to post-harvest handling and cold storage," Bahati added.
Source: monitor.co.ug