Emyooga saccos in Kampala urged on value addtion

During the visit, leaders from Buikwe, Gomba, Nakaseke, Ntenjeru South, Mukono South, Nakasongola, Katikamu South, and other constituencies within the Kampala Rural Zone were advised to use available materials to produce their goods, while ensuring they add value to the final outputs.

Fortunate Akankwasa, the records assistant for Mwenge South produce Emyooga Sacco that deals in crisps and honey emphasized the importance of adding value to products.

Akankwasa noted that although they grow Irish potatoes, they found it more profitable to add value to the potatoes rather than selling them directly.

They decided to produce potato crisps instead, as these have a longer shelf life and are more profitable due to the market demand.

"We add value on Irish potatoes by making irish crisps, packaging them and sell them to different markets. This helps us to get the income for our families," she  said.

"We were inspired to add value in our products so that we make them long lasting. You know you cannot keep Irish potatoes, for a long period, but when you add value on those Irish potatoes by making crisps, you can keep them for more than six months."

Akankwasa revealed that they earn significantly more from processing one sack of Irish potatoes into crisps than from selling the sack of potatoes directly.

"The bag of irish potatoes is at shs200,000, so when you make crisps, you involve in costs like parking bags, Irish potatoes and charcoals, but  you find that you have got a profit of shs250,000 per bag after deducting all production costs."

She added that value addition has helped them secure steady clients, including supermarkets, schools, and many others.

She urged Sacco leaders to prioritise value addition if they wish to have successful Saccos.

Claire Dorcus Kasande, Chairperson of the Women Entrepreneurs Emyooga Sacco in North Division, Fort Portal City, which specializes in crafts, emphasized the importance of adding value to local materials stating that its cheap and profitable

"We use local materials to create our crafts, sourcing everything from swamps and natural reserves, such as the materials for making mats, baskets, and huts. We do not purchase these materials because they are readily available from plantations. Our process involves adding value to these raw materials, which attracts buyers, including tourists. Fort Portal, being a tourist city, provides us with a market for our products, allowing us to generate profits through the added value we provide," Kasande said.

She  advised Kampala Sacco leaders to use local materials, highlighting that they lower capital costs and, as a result, increase profits.

"The advantages of using local materials is that they are cheap. You just go get them in the field, dry them and use them. The other thing is that they are readily available, you can get them in every swamp to make anything that you want. You don't need to buy materials which helps you to save your money."

Viola Nanteza, a visitor from Luweero District, hailed  Microfinance Support Centre for the opportunity to learn about developing a SACCO.

She also noted that she has gained significant insights into value addition.

" Most of the people who got money from Emyooga program were able to invest it  in various projects that add value in them. For instance I have seen women who are in craft making. For sure we need to do  value addition."

Nanteza expressed her gratitude for the effective leadership she observed within the saccos in Tooro and pledged to apply the knowledge she has gained over the past five days.

Michael Lukwago Kigongo from Ntenjeru South Produce Dealers SACCO hailed  the Microfinance Support Centre and government  for the program, stating that it has improved their lives.

He vowed to implement the knowledge gained from the exchange visits with his SACCO members.