At PrimeJack®, we're committed to revolutionising the meat industry with our dehydrated jackfruit products. But our mission goes beyond providing our innovative ingredient PrimeJack® for blended and hybrid meat applications. We're dedicated to positively impacting the lives of smallholder farmers in Uganda.
What are smallholder farmers?
Uganda has over 3.5 million smallholder farmers. These farmers play a crucial role in the country's agriculture sector, which employs around 70% of the population. Of this 70%, more than half are women. Women are essential to the country's rural agricultural sector, contributing significantly to crop labour and household food production.
Smallholder farms in East Africa typically cover less than 2 hectares (5 acres) of land, though in some regions and for specific crops, this may extend up to 5 hectares. These farms are often divided into smaller, fragmented plots, reflecting the limited land access and resource constraints many farming families face. Smallholder farmers primarily depend on family labor to manage their farms rather than hiring external workers. For many households, farming is not just an activity but their primary source of livelihood, providing both sustenance and income. Their farming is often a mix of subsistence agriculture, focused on feeding their families, and small-scale commercial production. With limited access to modern agricultural technologies, these farmers use traditional methods, reflecting their challenges and deep connection to the land.
Smallholder farmers often practice intercropping, cultivating a mix of staple food crops such as maize, beans, cassava, and millet alongside cash crops like coffee, tea, or fruits. Many also engage in small-scale livestock rearing, creating diverse and resilient farming systems supporting household needs and income generation.
Why does PrimeJack® not harvest from plantations?
We're often asked why we don't source from large plantations. The answer is simple: it goes against our core principles. Plantations can lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and social displacement. Furthermore, plantations typically focus on monoculture, making them vulnerable to large-scale losses if a single crop fails. We believe in working with smallholder farmers because:
The abundance of 1-2 billion kilograms of jackfruit grows across 1.3 million smallholder farms in Uganda. Jackfruit, one of the world’s most enormous tree-borne fruits, thrives in agroforestry systems, which in turn are managed by 1.3 million smallholder farmers. Despite this abundance, much of it goes underutilised, with a significant portion left to rot due to a lack of market access or processing infrastructure. This massive supply offers significant opportunities to improve food security challenges while reducing waste. Integrating jackfruit into global food systems can create value chains that benefit farmers and consumers.
Promoting agroforestry and sustainable food systems while avoiding mono-cropping. Our mission is rooted in agroforestry principles, where biodiversity and sustainability go hand in hand. Jackfruit trees coexist with other crops like coffee, vanilla, and fruits, supporting ecosystems while providing shade and soil fertility benefits. By discouraging mono-cropping, we protect biodiversity and ensure the resilience of these farming systems against climate change and pests. Promoting diversified farming not only safeguards the environment but also strengthens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Monetising an under-utilised crop growing in traditional agroforests. Despite its nutritional and economic potential, jackfruit is often overlooked and treated as a low-value crop. We aim to change this by transforming jackfruit into a marketable commodity, creating a sustainable income source for smallholder farmers.
Preventing jackfruit trees from being cut for climate resilience. Jackfruit trees are critical in maintaining agroforestry systems, providing shade, improving soil health, and acting as carbon sinks. However, these trees are often at risk of being cut down for firewood or timber, especially when seen as unprofitable. By creating economic value from jackfruit, we give farmers a reason to protect these trees, preserving their environmental and climate benefits. This helps mitigate deforestation, enhances climate resilience, and contributes to long-term sustainability.
Offering side income to increase the resilience of rural communities. For smallholder farmers, diversification of income sources is key to financial stability. Jackfruit, when monetised effectively, offers a valuable side income that can cushion farmers against market fluctuations in other cash crops. This additional revenue helps families invest in education, healthcare, and improved farming practices. By increasing the economic resilience of rural communities, we also strengthen their ability to adapt to environmental and financial challenges, while supporting women farmers in the field.
Scaling in the most cost- and carbon-effective way. Our scaling strategy prioritises economic viability and environmental responsibility. Processing jackfruit close to its source minimises transportation costs and carbon emissions, ensuring our operations remain efficient and sustainable. Drying the fruit significantly reduces its weight and volume, lowering logistical expenses and environmental impact. This approach supports our growth and aligns with our commitment to a low-carbon, sustainable future.
The abundance of Jackfruit in East Africa
Many smallholder farmers in Uganda have jackfruit trees growing on their plots for various historical and cultural reasons. Traditionally, the Buganda Kingdom, the largest ethnic group in Uganda, encouraged its people to plant jackfruit trees as a reliable food source. This practice established jackfruit as a staple that families could rely on during times of scarcity.
Moreover, the presence of jackfruit trees on farms is often a result of inheritance. This familial connection to the land and its resources has fostered a deep-rooted tradition of cultivating jackfruit.
On average, each smallholder farmer in Uganda has about three to five jackfruit trees, primarily for personal consumption and to feed livestock. This widespread cultivation reflects the tree's adaptability and resilience, making it an integral part of local agroforestry practices. Jackfruit trees are commonly found scattered throughout the forest, where they are managed by smallholder farmers and typically propagated through seeds.
Culturally, jackfruit is highly valued. Many communities have long believed that jackfruit is primarily for personal use, with some even considering the commercial sale of the fruit taboo. This mindset has further solidified the presence of jackfruit in smallholder farming systems across Uganda.
As a result of these factors—historical practices, inheritance, cultural significance, and agroforestry traditions—jackfruit has become an essential component of the agricultural landscape in Uganda. Often growing naturally alongside other crops without the need for large-scale planting efforts. This text provides an explanation on the reasons behind the prevalence of jackfruit among smallholder farmers in Uganda.
Jackfruit is the ideal crop for smallholder farmers
Jackfruit is known for its remarkable resilience, making it an ideal crop for various agricultural settings, particularly in regions prone to environmental stress. Several factors contribute to the jackfruit's resilience:
Drought Tolerance: Jackfruit trees exhibit a moderate level of drought tolerance. They can maintain higher leaf water potential during periods of water deficit than other fruit trees, such as custard apples. This ability allows jackfruit to thrive even in semi-arid conditions, making it suitable for regions with unpredictable rainfall patterns.
Adaptability to Soil Conditions: Jackfruit can grow in various soil types, including degraded and low-fertility soils. This adaptability enables it to be cultivated where other crops might struggle, thus providing food security and income opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Longevity: Jackfruit trees are long-lived perennials, with lifespans ranging from 20 to 50 years. This longevity allows farmers to benefit from consistent fruit production over many years without replanting.
Minimal Input Requirements: Once established, jackfruit trees require relatively low levels of fertilisers and pesticides compared to other crops. This characteristic reduces production costs and minimises the environmental impact of farming practices.
Seasonal Growth Patterns: Jackfruit trees exhibit distinct seasonal growth cycles, thriving during wet seasons and entering a dormancy phase during dry periods. This adaptability helps them conserve energy and resources during unfavourable conditions.
Resilience to Pests and Diseases: Jackfruit trees generally face fewer disease problems than other fruit crops, making them easier to manage and reducing the need for chemical interventions.
These attributes make jackfruit a valuable crop for smallholder farmers, particularly in regions facing climate variability and environmental challenges. Farmers can build resilience against adverse conditions by cultivating jackfruit while contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural practices.
How our PrimeJack® value chain is build
At PrimeJack, we believe in the transformative potential of forgotten crops like young jackfruit. By combining sustainable food solutions with community-driven initiatives, we are reshaping agricultural landscapes and creating lasting opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Jackfruit trees naturally thrive as shade providers within the agroforests of smallholder farmers. These farmers already rely on diverse income streams from crops like coffee, vanilla, and various fruit trees, and now jackfruit is emerging as a valuable addition. To build on this potential, we source through suppliers already organised around existing cash crop systems, ensuring efficiency and leveraging their established networks.
A cornerstone of our approach is fairness. Through a comprehensive study on living incomes and fair pricing, we’ve established a model ensuring farmers are compensated for their efforts. This commitment to equity is supported by a robust traceability system, which promotes transparency and continuous learning throughout the value chain.
Our operations add value to young jackfruit at the source, generating local economic opportunities and improving overall efficiency. By drying the jackfruit near its origin, we reduce transport costs by shipping only a fraction of the whole fruit. This approach saves resources and maximises the economic benefits for the communities we work with.
Our impact continues to grow through an organised harvesting system, with five suppliers facilitating the collection of young jackfruit twice a week. Harvests are assembled at collection centres, where full truckloads are efficiently transported to our processing facility.
The Power of Side Income
Many smallholder farmers in Africa struggle to earn a living income from their primary crops alone. By partnering with these farmers to harvest jackfruit, we're providing a valuable opportunity for additional income. This side income can make a significant difference in helping farmers reach a living wage - the minimum amount needed for a decent standard of living. From an undervalued crop to side income focusing on women's employment For decades, jackfruit remained an undervalued crop in Uganda, primarily seen as a subsistence food rather than a commercial opportunity.
This undervaluation created a unique opportunity for PrimeJack®. By developing a value chain from scratch, we could intentionally design an approach prioritising women's employment and leadership. Unlike traditional agricultural commercialisation processes that often marginalise women, our model places female farmers and workers at the centre of our operations.
The cultural taboo against commercially selling jackfruit worked in our favour. By introducing a new perspective on this "ancestral" crop, we could challenge existing norms and create economic opportunities specifically targeted at women smallholder farmers. Our approach transforms jackfruit from a family subsistence crop to an export commodity,
We are creating pathways for women's economic empowerment in rural Uganda through strategic processing and export.
The Path Forward
At PrimeJack®, we believe that sustainable business practices and social responsibility go hand in hand. By working with smallholder farmers and addressing their challenges, we're securing a high-quality supply of jackfruit for our products and contributing to rural development and poverty alleviation in East Africa.
Our approach aligns with global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable agriculture.
By choosing PrimeJack® products, you're more than just getting a high-quality ingredient for your meat alternatives. You're supporting a vision of a more equitable global food system where smallholder farmers can thrive and everyone in the supply chain earns a fair living wage.
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