Teso tropical fruits cooperative union ltd (TEFCU) field activity report for the month of March 2022.

Abstract

The Teso Tropical fruits cooperative union ltd (TEFCU) is not only a partner to Soroti Fruits factory but is 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 ofjuice in Soroti fruit processing factory. It has membership across all the ten districts ofTeso sub region namely; Amuria, Bukedea, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kumi, Ngora, Serere, Kapelebyong, Kalaki and Soroti. However its main Vision is to be a recognized source of high-quality farm fresh fruits products in East Africa, the main mission is Promotion of sustainable production and marketing of high-quality fruits in viable quantities to customers for improved livelihoods of the fruit farmers and the entire community in Teso sub-region, major strategic goals are To Strengthen Farmer organizations (Union and Primary cooperatives),To Increase production and productivity, To Coordinating Centralized marketing of Fruits in Teso Sub-Region, to Promote and Incorporate savings and credit among the Fruit farmers Organizations , Integration of Gender sensitivity measures, HIV/AIDS, environment and climate Change in interventions through good agronomic practices. The main objectives are a Coordinated market access and marketing, Increased production and productivity, to increase/grow membership (of PCs) from 59 to 80 (by 27.5%) by 2020, Increased resource mobilization, to address cross cutting issues such as environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and entrepreneurship, to conduct regular participatory community-based monitoring and evaluation as an integral part of project in region. During my industrial Training, the organization took me through a series of hands on field activities with farmers like pest and disease identification citrus and mango production using pest and disease identification chart, identification of high yielding varieties of citrus and mangoes and distributing seedlings to farmers, soil and water conservation measures in citrus farms like water trenches and water basins, pruning activities of Terminal branches, field hygiene practices like weeding and application of mulches , manure to citrus plants and mangoes. The organization also took through a series of meets to discuss impacts of our field visits to farmers, designed record keeping guides for production, harvesting and post harvesting. The organization showed us the benefits of planned follow up visits to farmers and its relevance to student trainees and to extension staff workers as this helps in making clear accountability to organization