Abstract:
Industrial training is one of the course units in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) course usually conducted to help a student integrate class knowledge and real practical field experience to enhance his/her learning but above all help them acquaint themselves with the working environment and as well attain employable skills and knowledge that are not taught from the university. Therefore, this report presents key activities conducted during the internship in Teso Tropical Fruit Cooperative Union Limited (TEFCU), key lessons, challenges and recommendations suggested. Key activities conducted included staff, meetings, orientation, exchange learning visits, weed, pest and disease management, soil and water management, farmer mobilization and profiling, seed sales. Teso Tropical Fruit Growers Cooperative Society Ltd, being not only a partner to Soroti Fruits limited but a 20% share shareholder charged with supply of up to 60% of the total raw material (quality fresh fruits mangoes and oranges) required in processing of juice in Soroti fruit processing factory conducts its activities aimed at increasing production and productivity through quality enhancement to meet the demand requirements therefore all the activities conducted during the internship were in line with the organization goals. Staff meetings and orientation held at the office of TEFCU was meant to provide guidance to students about the organization policies, overview of the organization and briefing students on the programs and activities being implemented, and generating the work plan to be followed during the industrial training practice. Farm allocation was done with the help of the field supervisor and the Production and Marketing Officer (PMO) in which the students were attached to the farmers they worked with throughout their I.T and also help students get acquainted to the working environment. Pests and diseases, lack of adequate organized market for the surplus production during peak harvest periods and lack of water for production are the major constraints hindering the development of fruit trade in Teso sub region. Basing on the findings above it is paramount to continue training farmers with latest skills on pest and disease management, diversification of the production and strengthen cooperative marketing to address the marketing challenges and exploration of other markets outside the region.
