Uganda - Fruits of the Nile Farmers

Dorothy and David Mugabe
Dorothy has been supplying Fruits of the Nile since the early 1990's. David her husband works as a delivery driver, but over the years has become more involved in the fruit drying business. They have five children who all attend school. On their 20 acres they grow coffee, bananas and matoke. The currently dry between 200-300kg a month of bananas, which provides them with around 70% of their income.

Norah Kagimu, Prosper Women's Association, Mbarara, has produced Sun Dried chewy banana chips and bogoya bananas for Fruits of the Nile for over ten years.

"I can supplement my children's school fees with money from drying fruits. Day to day expenditures of medical care, groceries, clothing and others are made possible.... I use the banana refuse (peel and off-cuts) to feed my cattle which in turn yield more milk than before. I sell some of the milk and some is used by the family as a source of protein. I use the unpalatable refuse to mulch my banana shamba (field)...I employ 5 women permanently on the fruit drying business. I buy from my fellow women, their apple bananas, bogoya and pineapples. Without Fruits of the Nile, I would be a beggar to my in-laws, especially after the death of my husband".

  
Norah Kagimu
Prosper Women's Association
 

Jane Naluwairo, Patience Pays, Kayunga District, has produced Sun Dried pineapple for Fruits of the Nile for over fifteen years.
"Originally I was earning my living by running a sewing machine. I was living in a rented room with my family. When I started solar drying I realised it was paying more than the sewing business. I sold my only sewing machine and put the money into fruit drying. Now I do not regret anything. I managed to buy a piece of land, constructed a semi permanent house with bricks.... My house has solar electricity which runs some of the driers during the day; and during the night it provides light, operates a television and a radio. I have provided employment to a number of women in my neighbourhood."
Jane Naluwairo

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