By Curthbert Kigozi
Locally known as Ekitefeli, soursop is a fruit with a green bark covered with soft spines.
Said to have originated from Central and South America, Soursop – Annona muricata – is cultivated in tropical climates around the world today. It can grow in a wide variety of soils – from sandy through to clay and loamy soils.
In Uganda, it’s still grown on a small scale since few people know about its ready local and international market.
Jessica, 30, earns big.
Jessica is a market vendor who has for about two years, sold soursop in Nakasero market in Kampala. She is not shy to talk about the fruits ready market and how she is earning good from it.
“The big ones differ in prices ranging from Shs7,000- Shs3,000 while the small ones cost between Shs1,000 – Shs2,000,” says Jessica.
On a good day, she earns around Shs40,000. On not so good days, she earns around Shs10,000.
Being that it’s a relatively rear fruit in the country, the prices are quite high as compared to the other fruits in the market.
In Nakasero market, each fruit costs between Shs3,000 – Shs10,000, Owino market Shs2000 – Shs15,000, Kireka market Shs3,000 – Shs15,000.
Health benefits
The fruit has anti-inflammatory properties and rich in a class of highly potent chemotherapeutic compounds. Once cancer is detected at stage one (early), taking the fruit and its boiled leaves daily may help cure such as breast liver and prostate cancer.
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