Uganda’s Vanilla Export Earnings rise to US $ 20.66 million despite challenges

A farmer in Central region caring for Vanilla

By George Bukenya

Despite a huge increase in revenue earnings from Vanilla exports, Uganda is still exporting  the crop in its raw form something  that have impacted on the total revenue realized from crop exports.

According to the Minister of State for Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in charge of crop Production Hon. Fred Bada Bwino Kyakulaga in 2019 Uganda registered earnings from Vanilla totaling to 4.47 million since then the country have a steady increase and in 2023 earnings registered were US  20.66 million.

While addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre, Hon. Bwino attributed such a huge increase from Vanilla earnings to improve quality in the production of the crop in the country which has helped to enhance the market opportunities.

Uganda is ranked second to Madagascar globally among the leading producer and exporters of Vanilla. It produces only 9% of the world’s total annual production and it exports to USA 42%, France 18.8%, Germany 11.8% and Canada 4.3%.

MAAIF Minister of State Hon Fred Bwino Kyakulaga stressing a point at Uganda Media Centre

The crop is mainly produced by small holder farmers who total to 65,000 spread in 38 districts and these face a challenge of voltage market partly poor quality of the product due to premature harvest, under cover processing where farmers hide and boil non mature Vanilla pods to attain the color of mature one.

The Minister said that in order to abet this, government through district leadership have formulated district ordinances to help regulate Vanilla production for instance eight districts have functional ordinances such as Ntoroko, Buikwe and Bunyagabo.

He also said that government has embarked on registering all farmers and dealers and it’s has also developing a comprehensive digital mechanism for registering and monitoring of agents as well as training extension works as another measure to overcome the challenges facing the Subsector.

Meanwhile the Hon. Bwino. Kyakulaga also issued the harvest period for this season which will commence on June 24th and run up to 25th September 2024.

He advised farmers to pick only mature Vanilla beans if they want to keep the market. However he said at the moment his ministry has not yet started campaign for value addition that it’s still prioritizing encouraging people to increase production.

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