Uganda - Fruits of the Nile

Fruits of the Nile is a Ugandan dried fruit company which has helped to get spare fruit production from rural growers to international markets, and in doing so brought skills and income all along the supply chain. The company buys fruits from more than 100 registered primary producer groups which it has trained in organic farming, hygiene, fruit drying and business management. They in turn buy fresh fruit from more than 800 other appproved farmers who have also been trained by Fruits of the Nile. Fruits of the Nile (FON) is a Fair Trade company, and the whole supply chain is in the process of conversion to organic production.

Most producers use simple, timber-framed "cabinet" driers, which are covered with UV-stabilised polythene, with mesh-covered vents at the base and top. Sliced fruit is laid out on plastic mesh trays inside the drier, and dried by the sun. The driers were designed by FON founders Adam Brett and Angello Ndyaguma in order to to find an affordable way for Ugandan farmers to process and market their fresh fruits and vegetables in Europe.

Southern Uganda has abundant sunshine and rainfall, and fruit like bananas and pineapple grow very well, as do other crops. Many smallholders grow fruit as their main cash crop, but much of the fruit goes to waste, particularly during the months of peak production, because there is in-sufficent market within a reasonable transport distance. Solar drying is a way for farmers to preserve their fruits, and add value to them. It has minimal environmental impact using renewable energy, retaining waste at the point where it is grown and minimising transport costs by transporting fruit only when it has been dried - and in bulk.

FON conduct regular and rigorous training with suppliers in safe and hygienic handling and processing of fruits, and organic agriculture and systems. FON's factory is located in Njeru, near Jinja just by the source of the River Nile. Most of FON's suppliers are located in Southern and Central regions of Uganda. Current exports to Tropical Wholefods by FON amount to 100 tonnes of dried fruit a year, most of this being pineapple and banana.

In 2008, FON won an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy identifying them as one of the pioneering renewable energy projects from Africa, Asia and Latin America. This award is testament to their dedication in 'bringing real social and economic benefits to their local communities.' The Ashden Award is the world's leading green energy prize.

Future Challenges .....

Fruits of the Nile are trying to get all their suppliers Organically certified and Fairtrade certified during the course of 2009. Tropical Wholefoods have helped them with this through training, and with funding support. We hope that both Organic and Fairtrade certification will not only improve still further standards of production but also open up new markets for the suppliers.