By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The government is set to register traders dealing in vanilla business in the 38 local government districts that grow vanilla crop in Uganda.
The revelation was made by Godfrey Omuruga, Programs Coordinator Catholic Relief Services at Catholic Relief Service during a media engagement on vanilla growing and protection at Uganda Media Centre on Friday.
“Government is going to issue register to register all vanilla traders in the 39 vanilla growing districts. We will be able to hold you accountable once such practices happen,” Omuruga said.
During the engagement, the minister of state for agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga announced the dates for season B harvesting of vanilla beans.
“And I hereby declare that the harvest of vanilla starts effective 5 January, 2024 and will go for a period of three (03) months until April 5, 2024,” he said.
The minister warned farmers against harvesting premature vanilla which may affect prices. He called for arrest of farmers and traders harvesting and transporting vanilla crops without authorization from the District Production Officer in their respective districts.
Uganda earns about $18m annually and has about 65,000 farmers compared to other cash crops like coffee. However, the business has allegedly been infiltrated by the mafias who fix prices leading to more price fluctuations.
Minister Bwino urged Vanilla farmers across the country not to cut down crops already established in their gardens due to a drop in vanilla prices saying that the crop is profitable in all environments.
On the other hand, Prossy Tumushabe Bahiigwa, Executive Director the Association of Vanilla Exporters of Uganda ltd (VANEX) said the mafia infiltration is due to farmers who illegally harvest crops without adhering to guidelines by the government and other stakeholders.
She appealed to farmers to follow guidelines issued by the government to avoid mafias hiding in vanilla business thus causing to abnormal price fluctuations.
