Smooth Cayenne pineapple variety which is widely grown in Uganda has low market value globally.
By Arnest Tumwesige
LUWERO: Pineapple value chain actors in Luwero district are anticipating that with strong coordination especially among processors, farmers, and the government, it will address long-standing bottlenecks that have limited the sector’s ability to meet international demand.
Zahara Muhammad, proprietor of Sulma Foods, an organic processing plant in Luwero sub-county, indicates that demand in international markets particularly in Asia and Europe is projected to remain strong.
However, fragmented operations among value addition firms continue to constrain the sector, highlighting the need for deliberate efforts to establish consortiums capable of fulfilling large export orders.
Addressing the high cost of international certification remains critical. This is expected to persist as a barrier, particularly for small and medium enterprises, unless collective certification models are strengthened to spread costs across farmer groups.
At Sulma Foods, which operates hybrid energy systems including solar and hydroelectric power, experiences unreliable electricity supply especially low voltage, a challenge faced by other processors which continues to drive up operational costs. Without improvements in power reliability, production efficiency is likely to remain limited.
Zahara notes that future competitiveness will depend on coordinated planning across the value chain. With Luwero positioned as a major pineapple-producing hub, raw material availability is unlikely to be a constraint.
Instead, the focus is expected to shift toward strengthening value addition, standardization, and premium pricing through better organization of producers and processors to achieve economies of scale.
“……..when you get an order, you’re able to fulfill it. For instance in Luwero, we are in the center of production of pineapples, so having a source of material is not an issue, but are able to have the material and add value to all of it, are we getting a premium out of it? So it needs proper planning at each stage of the value chain for us to be able to get something good out of it,” she observed.
Sulma Foods, which has operated for 25 years, continues to export to markets such as Japan, with dried pineapple as its flagship product alongside dried bananas and jackfruit.
Organic certification and farmer organization
Under the National Organic Movement of Uganda, certification remains a prerequisite for accessing international markets. The process, currently estimated at a minimum of 3000 Euros annually depending on the number of farmers certified, underscores the need for collective approaches.
Farmer organization into associations is expected to play a central role in improving productivity and incomes. Sulma Foods is already working with five large farmer associations whose members are earning premium prices for organic produce. This approach also integrates farmer sensitization on certification requirements and provision of technical support to enable compliance with export standards.
According to District Production Officer Dr. Kiddu Andrew Makubuya, organic production methods will remain essential for accessing most export markets, although limited opportunities may exist for non-organic produce in select countries.
He emphasizes the need to profile value chain actors and map market requirements across regional, European, and Asian markets to guide production planning and investment.
Expanding processing capacity and stabilizing markets
Market instability is expected to persist unless large-scale processing infrastructure is established. Agro-business consultant Godfrey Bogere told GLNA that without reliable local processing capacity, farmers are likely to continue relying on informal export channels such as Kenya, where raw pineapples are sold and later re-imported into Uganda as processed products.
Developing products such as dried pineapple, pulp, and juice presents viable export opportunities, provided there is consistent supply and stable market access.
Bogere observes that the only major processor, Iman Harvest in Kasanda district, remains geographically distant for many Luwero farmers. Expanding processing facilities closer to production zones is expected to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.
Farmer group fragmentation and price volatility
In 2015, several farmers ranging from small, medium and large scale pineapple gardens formed an association aimed at attracting government support for establishing a processing factory, financing, mechanization, and extension services. However, the initiative later disintegrated after failing to meet these expectations.
Currently, farm-gate prices range between UGX 300 and 800 per pineapple, with limited processing capacity unable to absorb production volumes, especially during bumper harvests.
Addressing data gaps and varietal challenges
The absence of reliable production data at district level remains a major constraint to planning and investment. Existing statistics from the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics do not adequately capture pineapple production, making it difficult to quantify output and structure the value chain effectively.
Dr. Makubuya said the widely grown Smooth Cayenne variety, although preferred locally for its size and sweetness, continues to fall short of certain international market standards. Farmers are therefore expected to gradually adopt improved varieties that align with export requirements.
Untapped opportunities in waste utilization
A review published by Sage Journals, “Potential Contributions of Pineapple Waste to Nutrition, Medicine, Bioenergy Sources, and Environmental Conservation,” indicates that while pineapple waste has limited direct human consumption value, it can be effectively used in bioenergy production and other sustainability applications.
The 2025 study further notes that fresh pineapple waste contains bioactive compounds with potential applications in medicine, nutrition, and energy production.
Therefore, with adequate financing and appropriate technology, these innovations could transform current post-harvest losses into additional income streams.
For farmers in Luwero, what is currently perceived as waste could, in the future, become a valuable resource contributing to improved livelihoods and a more sustainable pineapple value chain.
