Uganda: "Farmers are afraid to start growing flowers, but they are in high demand"

More than 80 per cent of Ugandans are involved in agriculture but there are fears of little interestingness from young hoi polloi , according toDaily Monitor ’s late clause . “Farmers think that flower grow is one of the most expensive and unmanageable byplay in Uganda that ’s why few have invested in such a business of hortculture . Farmers have let on how you could realise from this line of work when you have concentrated on it as your principal income earn source . "

Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the world , flower growers have registered a high demand of roses from international marketplace and this has give them courage to invest more in this business . Rajiv Ruparelia the managing director Rosebud Limited in Entebbe says that the need for cut rose on the international grocery store during the lockdown was very high .

Apart from the availability of land , capital and seedlings , the farmer say effort and solitaire are key for winner in flower grow . “ Some had everything but want of pertinacity saw them give up , they now admire our strong will , ” he say . Ruparelia reveal they principally grow the flowers organically to get an sharpness in the international market . The farmer says the main challenge is not pest or disease but keeping the standards fix by the earth market . To meet the international authentication , the rosebush must sink the charge .

Rosebud harvests grand of prime stem in a sidereal day , amounting to more than 10,000 boxes each workweek . After harvesting the flowers , they keep them in a frigid room for about an hour to make them remain impertinent . Thereafter , they are polish off and sorted according to sizes , and later grade .

“ We then package the flowers according to color and sizes and export directly to the marketplace in Europe , ” say Ruparelia who encourages anyone interested in efflorescence to grow them for both local and external market , though he say it is a capital and labour - intensive business . The farm the Ruperalias embark on in 2000 with just about Shs100 m on 13 hectares has expanded its Charles Frederick Worth to zillion of shillings and employs more than 1,500 workers . He confesses that the flower farm gives him repose . “ Whenever I amount to the blossom farm , I just smell the rose and I sense very peaceful . ”

However , even as the business bloom the road to the top has not been a bed of pink wine . “ Despite bringing billions of shilling to the country , the industry has its own share of challenge admit a not so favorable tax approach , price of maintain standards and high-pitched childbed charges , ” says Ruparelia . He believes a tax holiday will encourage him to repeat the investment and employ more Ugandans .

To read the complete article , go to www.monitor.co.ug .