ugnet_: IMPROOVING THE EXPORT OF UGANDA BANANA

[Mulindwa Edward]

Netters   Few days ago I got a chance to buy Banana exported from Uganda to London, It was really a good day although it no longer tastes the same. And I have some few pointers that I would like to make so that  who ever is sending them to London or any other export market can do to ease on life. The fact that I do not know who is to address these pointers, I will ask who ever knows where these facts should go to forward them.   1) To try and box a familiar size in a single box, and I understand we do not have a sorting system in Uganda but when you put the higher banana with the lower ones you end up with a crooked box, you loose space and you waste another space on the flight. Try to line up the Bananas and cut it in line, so that the all higher ones go in the same boxes and the lower ones in their own boxes. As it turns out you can even sell the bigger ones at a higher price. So by mixing it all up you loose money as well.   2) The package box stinks Fellas, get who ever is manufacturing the boxes to change the style and in several ways. (a) The gauge he is using is very light, so it needs to be a little firmer 1) A firm box with stands transportation. You should be able to transport that packed box by truck to Mombassa, why are they under great stress when they come by plane? 2) A firm box must arrive in London standing straight, there is no reason why they arrive twisted and you have to look for the word Uganda Banana, for it has now become the bottom part. Talk about jet lag. 3) A firm box will allow you to make a larger box, You should be able to park in a box at least a full Banana and some times and a half. 4) Remember that the flight you use is taking other products from other moving counties, so if your packing is not in line you will loose space and time.   But the most important thing that really took my heart, was the fact that we are today in 2002 still using sisal "Akagogwa" to tie these boxes, man oh man, who invented that technology? Listen, before I die with laughter, a firm box will stand with strength, you will put in the Banana and put the other top which interlocks into both. These boxes should have the ability to interlock with out akagoogwa, My God. You will have a good decent packing and you will have allot of space when you have taken a great amount of weight. If you were to export to Markets like Canada, you would fall into a problem of one kid who is allergic to Sisal, and they can sue your pants off.   Now if any one knows who these remarks must be addressed to, I can get a sample of box which I am talking about here, and I can send it to any where he/she wants it, whether to London or to Uganda, so that you can understand what I am talking about. Let me know where you want it.   Lastly, when you bring this Matoke to London you sell them per pound, and you have only one flight as far as I know, have you ever considered using bulk packaging? A plywood style, let us say 500 pounds, and you load a couple of those on the flight. You can arrange this with British Airlines and they can give you the dimensions they can load and you buy them or make them accordingly.   Now Uganda government has a policy of how they want the packing labelled, tell them that you will label the Box the same way they want the labelling of the paper box, because I wonder whether Uganda's name going all over London in these disfigured boxes is what they want.   Get back to me and I will send you a sample. Be well Em        The Mulindwas communication group "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"