Performance of the Pineapple Value Chain in South Western Uganda: Implications for Value Addition

Abstract

The pineapple value chain stands out as one that should be prioritized for promotion and improvement among the key fruit value chains for South Western Uganda as a result of its perennial nature with low pest/disease risk, low land requirement, importance for environmental and natural resources’ sustainability, high profitability and history of having enhanced rural household incomes and non- restrictive to entry of rural poor. Mean monthly pineapple production peaks were bi-anual and matched the rainy season. Pineapple nutrient content revealed that fiber was highest in pineapples from Isingiro (6.29%) producing a significantly greater amount of pulp (mean: 510.4g/1000g of fresh fruit) than Ntungamo (2.03%: mean: 226.15g/1000g of fresh fruit) and Bushenyi (mean: 408.84 g/1000g of fresh fruit). Soil physico-chemical parameters varied significantly across the study sites, at 0.05% level of significance. A Pearson’s correlation test between soil composition and nutrient content of pineapples from the various sites revealed that other than pH, Vitamin C however had a significant correlation with soil Nitrogen (p= 0.02), TDS with Magnesium (p=0.01); and fibre with soil organic matter (p= 0.04), Calcium (p= 0.01) and Magnesium (p= 0.02). Pineapples produced in Isingiro had the greatest percentage composition of crude fiber in dry pineapple pulp (mean: 29.6%) proving that dry pineapple pulp is a reliable source for crude fiber for utilization in product development that focuses on enriching human diet with dietary fiber. The high phosphorus and Total Dissolved Solute content (291.7 ppm) of Isingiro pineapples also gives them a strong flavor and a very sweet taste respectively for processing pineapples into dry sweet products and snacks. Pineapples from Ntungamo were best suited for juice extraction due to their high moisture content. The fresh Pineapple value chain in SW Uganda experiences a mean postharvest loss of 19.86% with highest loss hot spot being transportation. On average Ntungamo incurred significantly higher postharvest losses (26.9%) than the other two study sites. Solar drying of pineapples for the export was an easily adaptable value addition innovation for small scale chain actors alongside other potential value addition avenues such as pineapple wine and juice production for improvement and promotion to enhance pineapple value chain in South western Uganda.