Mangoes

Area of production
Traditionally Mangoes have been known to grow wildly and different varieties are grown in almost all the districts of Uganda. Many rural and semi-urban homesteads in Uganda have at least a Mango tree planted somewhere on the farm.  The introduction of improved varieties of mangoes has encouraged mango commercial farming in Uganda. The Central region and Eastern Uganda are the main sources of Mangoes.

Demand for mango
The mangoes are grown by local farmers mainly for the home consumption and the excess if any to sale for cash. The volumes are therefore are not enough to meet both the local and export demand.  The fruits processors do not have enough volumes of mangoes throughout the year and they have therefore to resort to the importation of mango concentrates from abroad.
Uganda’s dried mangoes are exported at good prices to small niche markets in Germany and UK for organic dried mangoes.

Benefits of growing mangoes

• They are eaten by the local people
• It is a source of cash
• They have a potential for exports
• They are used in fruit processing factories.

Varieties of Ugandan Mangoes
There are many varieties of mangoes in Uganda and the key ones preferred by consumers are as follows:

• Ddodo
• Bire
• Sejjembe Naruzale
• Asanti  
• Kakola (Masaka) and other indigenous cultivars mainly identified by production areas.
• Apple Mangoes and Ngoe are available throughout the year.

Areas that Grow Mangoes
The key producing areas of local cultivars are

• Luwero  District
• Masaka District
• Luwero District
• Iganga District
• Kamuli District
• Masaka District.

For the Western region of the Country the main source of Mangoes is

• Masaka District
• Kanungu District
• Ntugamo Districts.

All imported fresh Mangoes from Kenya are sold through large retailers

• Uchumi Super Market
• Shoprite Super Market
• Nakasero Market

The most common Varieties on the Market are

• Tommy Atkins
• Apple mango (Haden)
• Keitt
•  Kent
• Ngowe (Sabre)
• Vandyke
• Boribo.

Challenges to mango farming

• Poor knowledge by local farmers on available improved cultivars and tree management.
• The improved cultivators are expensive for local farmers
• Low output and poor quality of fruits result as a result of damage by pest and diseases.
• Lack of effective market information system to facilitate market oriented production among farmers.
• High loses due to poor handling, packaging, transport and storage methods used.
• The country does not have enough volumes to meet quantities required by the exporters, local consumers and processors of dried fruits.
• Lack of capital to acquire technology and support services for value addition.

The Processing Firms
The big mango processors include the following:

• Britannia Ltd
• Sunshine Dairies
• CHEERS
• RECO Industries