MICHAEL N
Pineapple farmers and vendors in Nyaruteme, Nyamukana Town Council and the greater Itojo area have expressed concern over the declining market for their produce, saying the situation has led to heavy losses and growing debts.
The vendors say many of them acquired loans from financial institutions to invest in pineapple growing and trade, but the low demand this year has left them struggling to repay the money.
According to the chairperson of pineapple vendors at Nyaruteme Pineapple Centre, about 140 people operate at the market. However, business has significantly slowed down in recent months, affecting their daily income. She noted that the government has offered little support to the group, adding that the stalls they use were constructed by a well-wisher, Eliphazi Katureebe.
Vendors say that while production has increased, competition in the market has intensified, resulting in reduced sales. In an effort to find buyers, traders have resorted to transporting pineapples to distant districts such as Isingiro, Kasese and Ibanda. However, the high transport costs further reduce their profits.
Farmers are also grappling with crop diseases and a lack of pesticides to control them. They report that the district agriculture department has not conducted sufficient sensitization and training programmes to equip them with improved farming skills and modern methods of disease control.
Residents note that pineapple growing and vending remain the main source of income for most households in Nyaruteme. With limited alternative economic activities, families depend on the trade to meet basic needs such as school fees, food and medical care. They are now appealing to the government to help them secure wider markets to stabilize prices and reduce post-harvest losses.
Some vendors have raised concerns about the lack of electricity and street lighting at the pineapple centre, despite its location along the main road. They say the absence of lighting forces them to close early, denying them the opportunity to sell to travellers during evening and night hours. Many attribute their dependence on pineapple vending to the closure of the Nyakihanga Pineapple Factory, which previously provided employment and a ready market.
Traders say the situation has deteriorated to the extent that some are selling a pineapple at as low as Shs 500 to avoid losses from rotting stock. They are calling on the government and relevant authorities to intervene by connecting them to reliable markets and supporting them with agricultural inputs to sustain their livelihoods.
