The Soroti Fruit Factory is set to recommence mango processing within the next two weeks, according to CEO Julius Martin Ekomu. The facility, which installed a new mango line in December 2022, conducted processing trials of 300,000 to 400,000 kilograms of local mangoes during the availability period in May and June 2023.
The factory plans to purchase 110,000 kilograms of improved mangoes worth sh49.5 million at the end of the coming week. Farmers will receive sh450 per kilogram for their mangoes, maintaining the same rate as before, as disclosed by CEO Ekomu. The processing of these improved mangoes is expected to continue until May when local mangoes become available.
In a strategic effort to support local farmers and ensure the continuous operation of the Soroti Fruit Factory, management recently initiated an emergency purchase of oranges. From November 2023 to early January 2024, the factory successfully bought one million kilograms of oranges valued at sh450 million from local farmers across Teso, addressing challenges related to insufficient funding.
Acknowledging initial complaints about middlemen, Ekomu stated, “There were complaints initially about middlemen, so we communicated to the farmers that we were going to come down to the ground to see where we are buying these oranges from.” This proactive approach allowed the factory to buy directly from farmers, eliminating middlemen and fostering transparency in the procurement process.
Ekomu emphasized the factory’s commitment to this approach, stating, “We will continue with this exercise [of] going down to the people,” reinforcing the Soroti Fruit Factory’s dedication to supporting local agriculture and fostering direct relationships with farmers.
