The National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), an umbrella organization for all actors in the organic value chain in the country, has projected that organic food exports from Uganda will increase by 40 percent in 2024 from over $159 million.
Organic farming is the production of food without the use of synthetic and harmful chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, livestock feed additives, or genetically modified components.
Organic farming relies on alternative farming methods including crop rotation, mechanical cultivation, use of animal and green manure, and integrated pest management.
These include; fruits, herbs, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and poultry products as well as processed drinks, and frozen meals.
The projected growth is attributed to the increasing demand for major crops grown in the country such as coffee, tea, cocoa, oil crops such as sesame, chia, and sunflower, fruits and vegetables, soybeans, herbs and spices, vanilla, chili, ginger, shea butter, and cotton.
According to Chariton Namuwoza
CEO, NOGAMU, and President African Organic Network, there has been a lot of progress registered with Uganda becoming a major player on the global stage.
Namuwoza noted that the Production and trade of organic products have rapidly expanded from cotton and chili to include coffee, cocoa, sesame, vanilla, chia, sunflower, fresh and dried fruits, apple banana, mango, jack fruit, passion fruit, tomatoes, onions, ginger, papaya herbs, honey, sugar, oils, eggs, local chicken and fish, to mention but a few.
He revealed that over the last five years, many Ugandan companies have invested in processing and value-addition facilities for organic products.
As a result, Uganda now has excellent certified organic value-added products such as organic sugar, cooking oil, fruit pulp, juices, dried fruits, spices, wine, roasted and powdered coffee, and cocoa powder, to mention but a few.
Commenting on Uganda Hosting the Non-Allied Movement (NAM) and G77+ China Summits in the next few days, Namuwoza said the two summits mean a lot to the organic Industry in Uganda and Africa, in general.
He explained that it is a golden opportunity for Uganda to showcase the tremendous progress registered in the sector over the years and, at the same time, position itself as the source of premium quality organic products
He appealed to Government, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and all individuals that are at the forefront of hosting the NAM and G77+China Summits to underscore the fact that Uganda is home to a broad range of safe, healthy, and organic foods and better still, serve the delegates with organic dishes.
“We call upon the private sector – hotels and restaurants to cook and serve organic food for our guests during the two summits,” said Namuwoza.
Uganda is one of the leading African countries producing and exporting organic products to the EU, US, Japan, and other export destinations.
The country is also leading in Africa with 210,352 organic farmers and the third in Africa after Tunisia and Tanzania with 262,282 ha organic land, representing 1.8% of total agricultural land and 158,328 ha wild collection.