Presented by Isiko-Nabongo Stephen
Founder and Managing Director
Flona Commodities ltd
Email: flona_95@yahoo.com,
Tel: +256772409557
Introduction
 Overview of pineapple production in Uganda
 Flona Commodities Limited(FCL) activities
 FCL- Experience as player
 Challenges using the ISO 14067 and
Opportunities
 Recommendations
 Conclusions
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Overview of pineapple growing in Uganda
 Pineapple(ananus) is widely grown by small scale
farmers in the central, Eastern and western parts of
Uganda.
 Varieties : smooth Cayenne and Victoria.
 Maturity period; pineapple takes 18 months
 Support to farmers; eg government, donors
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FLONA(FCL) Activities
 FCL is a private limited company, registered in Uganda
in 1995
 FCL owns an organic fruit processing facility and a
demonstration farm on 8 acres
 Has registered 300 small-growers(SGs) growing
pineapple, mango, jackfruit, papaya and apple
banana in two locations in central Uganda
 Recruits, sensitizes and registers SGs
 Trains and facilitates Certification of SGs for Organic
and ISO 14067
 Procures pineapple from small scale farmers for
processing.
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Flona’s activities
 Current position for ISO 14067
 Data collection started
 Pre-audits, validation and Certification foreseen
in 2014
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Farmers delivering pineapple
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Flona staff weighing and
preparing pineapple for drying
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Flona staff sorting and packing
pineapple
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Challenges:
 fragmented small holder fields which make
supervision cumbersome.
 destruction of trees, burning of farm wastes.
 Poor planting materials.
 Poor control of pests and diseases
 Unskilled own farm labor mainly by women and
children.
 Poor harvesting methods, transportation and no
post harvesting facilities.
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Land degradation caused by
destruction of plant cover
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Challenges cont’d
 Disinterest of SGs in changing status quo.
 Poor knowledge by SGs in farm waste management
 Certification cost for individual farmers
prohibitive.
 High cost of buying processing equipment
 Poor packaging material.
 Use of diesel generators, charcoal and fire wood
by pineapple processors which increase carbon
emission
 Transportation: Uganda is land locked and uses
heavy trucks and cargo aircrafts.
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Challenges in ISO14067 development
 the data collection based on annual production might not
reflect the real situaton
 Sampling rule must be clearly defined with consideration
with fact that the grower has other crops
 As a result of the above challenges, meeting quality
requirements is very difficult and cumbersome. It requires:
 training fragmented farmers
 Continuous scouting and internal Inspection
 External inspection and Audit
 Cost of certification is very high for an ordinary farmer.
Besides the cost and bureaucracy in renewing certificates is
high
 Renewal of certification is also a challenge
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Opportunities arising from ISO 14067
Certification.
 Access to regional and international markets
 Training: farmers and stake holders are trained in
Good Agricultural practices.
 SGs trained in waste material management, making
composite manure, making clean energy like bio-gas
and briquettes. ISO 14067 standards introduces
stake holders to improved processing technologies .
 Leads to emergence of agro-ecotourism and training
centers
 Improved social welfare of stake holders.
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Training staff and farmers
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Recommendations
• Continous Sensitization and training of stake holders.
• Introduction of forum to offer support and advisory
services to the pineapple sector.
• Introduction of multiplication centers and demo
gardens which would collabolate with the regulatory
body
• Specific/improved technologies tailored and suitable
for African environment (power efficient and
affordable)
• Packaging materials which are qualitative and biodegradable
• Partnership between stake holders, standards bodies
and buyers Flona Commodities Ltd
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Conclusion
 A strong partnership between local stake holders,
buyers and international standards bodies will create a
sustainable, qualitative supply of healthy foodstuff and
yet protecting the environment. It will further lead to
the improvement welfare of all the players especially
the small holder farmers and enhance trade globally
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THANK YOU
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