The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has issued a stern warning to vanilla farmers and traders: anyone caught harvesting vanilla beans before full maturity will face strict penalties as the country sets its sights on expanding its share in the lucrative global vanilla market.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Maj. (Rtd) Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, officially declared the vanilla harvest window for Season A, 2025 to run from June 18 to September 18.
The minister emphasized that the Ministry will take firm action against those harvesting prematurely or handling green beans outside the permitted period.
District officials, MAAIF staff, and the Agricultural Police have been tasked with monitoring the entire harvest and trading process.
“Based on national vanilla maturity surveys and scientific analysis, I now officially declare the vanilla harvest period for Season A, 2025,” Kyakulaga stated.
“Farmers must selectively harvest only fully mature vanilla beans to ensure quality and avoid penalties.”
With global vanilla prices projected to recover in the 2025–2026 season, Uganda is well-positioned to emerge as a major supplier of premium-quality vanilla.
This offers a stable alternative to Madagascar, whose dominance in the vanilla market has been affected by supply disruptions and insecurity.
Vanilla is now cultivated in 38 districts across Uganda, including Kayunga, Kasese, Mukono, Buikwe, Mbale, Jinja, and Kamuli.
The crop has become a transformative income source for rural farmers, thanks to strong international demand and favorable pricing.
Ugandan vanilla beans are internationally recognized for their exceptional quality, with a vanillin content exceeding 4%, placing them among the best in the world.
This premium status has driven strong export growth, particularly to:
- The United States (42% of exports),
- France (18.8%), and
- Germany (11.8%).
Over the past five years, Uganda’s market share in the U.S. has risen from 3% to 12%, and from 1% to 10% in the European Union.
“Vanilla represents a golden opportunity for Uganda’s economic transformation,” Kyakulaga said.
“With continued collaboration, sound policy, and farmer commitment, Uganda can become a top global supplier of premium, traceable vanilla.”
The minister also urged local manufacturers to stop importing synthetic vanillin and instead invest in local value addition by processing Uganda’s natural vanilla beans.
“Why should we import vanillin when we produce world-class vanilla? Let us create value at home,” he stressed.
According to the Bank of Uganda’s 2024 report, Uganda exported 604 metric tonnes of vanilla last year, earning USD 16.6 million—up from 266 metric tonnes in 2023. This performance secured Uganda the rank of the world’s second-largest vanilla producer for the second consecutive year.
For the upcoming Season A (June–September 2025), Uganda expects to produce 380 metric tonnes, assuming carryover stocks have been cleared. This projection is attributed to increased acreage, improved agronomic practices, and a strengthened value chain.
Kyakulaga also cautioned against selling vanilla to unlicensed traders, calling on all stakeholders to register and obtain proper licenses at the district level.
“Unlicensed trade undermines traceability and quality. I urge all farmers to deal only with certified buyers,” he said.
As Uganda doubles down on its investment in vanilla, MAAIF continues to champion commercial agriculture as the cornerstone of national development.
“Our mission is to transition Uganda from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. Vanilla is a key driver of this transformation,” the minister said.