Background
Uganda's first floriculture company was founded
in 1992 and began exporting in 1993. Since
then the industry has expanded to 20 growers
whose farms total 150 hectares. The
Uganda Flower Exporters Association (UFEA) promotes the industry internationally and gives
technical and marketing advice to members.
Uganda
produces 36 varieties of roses. The majority
are sweethearts which are characterized
by short stems and small flower heads. 53,000
metric tons of roses were exported in 2003
for earnings of $26 million dollars. Uganda's
climate is also ideal for the production
of chrysanthemums. In 2003 30 million chrysanthemum
cuttings were sold for $50 million dollars.
The total
volume and value of Ugandan flower exports
from 1995 - 2003 is highlighted in the following
table.
APEP Interventions
Diversification within the flower sector
is an important next step. APEP is working
with XClusive Cuttings Uganda Ltd to conduct
trials of over 50 cuttings, with a goal
of identifying at least six varieties for
commercial production. Cuttings that are
being tested include mother, potted, garden
and fruit plants. Initial trial shipments
have been sent to Italy and the Netherlands
for market testing.
Additional
interventions in the flower sector include
research on the production of flowers at
higher altitudes, capacity building of flower
sector middle managers and support of a
UFEA research and training specialist.
Selected
middle managers are enrolled in an Applied
Tropical Floriculture Course which includes
theoretical study of the floriculture industry,
field visits to Kenyan horticulture industry
stakeholders as well as visits to flower
markets in the Netherlands. The UFEA
research and training specialist has
issued six temporary Milieu Project Sierteelt
(MPS) certificates based upon internal audits
measured against Dutch standards, drafted
and distributed eight flower market analysis
reports and provided trainings to UFEA members.
Related Floriculture Resources
|
