Mashamba: the identity of quality fruits, vegetables

BBy Thomas Pere

A truck belonging to Fresh Farm Produce. The company exports fruits and vegetables to Europe

It is not surprising to see the Mashamba fresh fruit and vegetable branded trucks increase the number of trips to Entebbe Airport. Production has risen and what what we see in Uganda is just a tip of the iceberg. In the European Union countries you get to see more of the Mashamba trademark on boxes in retail and wholesale distribution points. The Mashamba trademark is the identity of quality fresh fruits and vegetables coming from Uganda.

It is the Swahili word for farm or field.

Michael Kawalya the quality, export and production manager of Farm fresh Produce (FFP) says: “This name was chosen because the company’s activities have a positive impact not only on local farmers, but also the community and the Ugandan economy. Mashamba benefits from the productive and fertile lands of Uganda to cultivate tropical fruits and vegetables, All-year round.”

Farm Fresh Produce is a local company whose products include matooke, chilli, Okra, egg plants, hot paper and bird eye chilli. Others are passion fruits, avocados, pineapples and sweet potatos.

Kawalya says: “Every step of our production process is carefully monitored directly by IPM and HACCP trained personnel from the planting of the seeds in the fields to the delivery at points of sales in the European markets. Companies which have (integrated Pest Management (IMP) and Hazard Critical Control Point (HACCP) trained personnel get Gap certification which allows their products to enter the European Union.”

He adds that the company has experts who ensure that the fruits and vegetables going to the European markets are of the highest quality, are fresh and with flavour.
Kawalya explains that the harvesters at all Mashamba’s fields are careful when picking the fruits and culling the vegetables.

“Selection is done on the texture, colour, and appearance of each fruit and vegetable. This rigorous process also applies to the small, independent farmers who cultivate produce in their own fields to sell to us. They are trained and adhere to Mashamba’s high cultivation standards,” Kawalya adds. He says FFP products are exported in boxes of varying sizes.

Depending on the request of the buyer, the boxes range from 4kg to 20kg.
James Kanyije the managing director of Farm Fresh Produce says: “Our fruits and vegetables are transported to Europe aboard refrigerated airplanes and remain cool from the time they are packed until they reach the European consumers. These fruits and vegetables reach the European markets in less than 36 hours from the time they were culled in the fields of Uganda.”

He says unlike in the past when 90% of Mashamba products used to come from their chain of out-growers, in various parts of the country, the company has established three modern farms in Luwero where 40% of the products are produced.
NK farm in Gayaza has 90 hectares, Kigerege Farm is 80 hectares and another the recently acquired farm is 100 hectares.

“All the crops in these farms are the indigenous species and are produced all-year round. Apart from harvesting, all activities in the farms are mechanised, including ploughing, spraying and even irrigation of the gardens,” Kanyije says.

Kanyije says, the increase in volume of their products is a result of mechanisation and modernisation. Exports have increased from the previous year of 1,000 tones last year to the 1,100 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Our plan is to have a 50% share of the European market which will require us to have a shipment of 100 tons per day. This is, however, very low from what our neighbours who are shipping 1,000 tons per day, although for a different market, the supermarkets,” says Kanyije. Back up