By Ambrose Gahene
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, has cautioned farmers against harvesting immature vanilla during this season if they are to fetch high prices and guarantee high quality of Ugandan Vanilla.
The Minister made the remarks at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday, while announcing this year’s vanilla harvesting season B dates, which will commence on December 29, 2025, to March 29, 2026.
Hon. Kyakulaga said the government is committed to transforming Uganda’s vanilla industry through strengthened regulations and coordinated enforcement. He pointed out that this harvest window is not just a date; it is a promise to our farmers that the Government will protect their hard work from theft or illegal trading, which jeopardises vanilla trade on international markets.
“Advisory for the Vanilla value chain is provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF” as a targeted intervention to support enterprise development, especially for farmers organised under the apex vanilla association”, he said in a statement read to Journalists.
Minister Kyakulaga added that in 2024, value chain development efforts enabled Uganda to export 604 metric tons of Vanilla worth USD 16.6 million, a remarkable increase from 266 metric tons in 2023, maintaining Uganda’s position as the second-largest global producer.
“Uganda’s unique advantage of having two harvest seasons and producing vanilla with vanillin content above 4 per cent continues to drive strong demand in premium markets”.
MAAIF State Minister Fred Bwino Kyakulaga
“This superior quality has enabled the country to expand its market share in the United States from 3 per cent to 12 per cent and in the European Union from 1 per cent to 10 per cent over the past five years, while also opening new market opportunities in countries such as Japan and China”, he added.
He enumerated MAAIF interventions to support vanilla farmers to include: establishing the Vanilla Desk, seasonal Declaration of the Official Harvest Window and establishment of a strong Vanilla Multi-stakeholder Platform, among others.
Ms Prossy Tumushabe Bahiigwa, the executive director, Vanilla Association of Uganda (VANEX), said farmers are expected to reap big during this harvesting season as prices have goneup. She revealed1Kg of ripe green vanilla ranges between UGX 10,000 and UGX 20,000.
Bahiigwa also urged farmers to ensure that only ripe vanilla is harvested if they are to fetch high prices and maintain the market.
