The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), together with the Association of Vanilla Exporters of Uganda (VANEX), has called on Ugandan farmers to increase vanilla production to tap into the rapidly growing international market.
Ugandan vanilla has been ranked among the world’s finest, with a vanillin content score of 4.5 out of 5 — making it highly aromatic and desirable to global buyers. U
ganda is currently the world’s second-largest producer after Madagascar.
According to MAAIF, only about 20 percent of the vanilla consumed globally is organically produced, while 80 percent is synthetic.
The ministry believes this growing global preference for organic vanilla presents a major opportunity for Ugandan farmers.
Barbara Komushaago, Head of the Vanilla Desk at MAAIF, said the crop—once considered neglected—has now been elevated to strategic priority status.
“Vanilla used to be like an orphaned crop, but with the help of various stakeholders, we have made it a key agricultural commodity the government is promoting,” she said.
Komushaago noted that production had dropped sharply in 2019 but has since rebounded following government interventions.
“In 2019, Uganda produced only 24.6 metric tonnes of vanilla. By last year, production had risen to 604 metric tonnes — a 394 percent increase,” she said.
Among the measures taken to stabilize the sector was the declaration of official harvest months to curb theft and premature harvesting.
“This policy has greatly reduced cases of theft and immature vanilla being picked before it is ready,” Komushaago added.
She also revealed that MAAIF has strengthened its extension services, deploying technical officers to major vanilla-growing districts.
“We have registered all growers and can trace them. Our extension workers, researchers, and agronomists are guiding farmers to meet global quality standards,” she said.
However, some farmers have complained that waiting for official harvest declarations leads to losses as ripe pods dry in the fields.
Richard Kyabagu, a farmer from Rakai District, said the delay sometimes affects yields and profitability. He also decried rampant price fluctuations.
Johnson Mugarra, a vanilla researcher at MAAIF, said the government has classified vanilla as a non-traditional cash crop under the National Development Plan IV due to its export potential.
“There is a growing preference for organic vanilla, especially in countries like France, where synthetic vanilla is being phased out. This means demand for natural vanilla is outstripping supply,” he said.
Mugarra added that global vanilla prices have fluctuated over the years.
“In 2007, a kilogram sold for as high as Shs300,000 due to a supply crisis in Madagascar. Today, prices in Uganda average between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000,” he said.
Prossy Tumushabe Bahigwa, Executive Director of VANEX, said Uganda has the potential to dominate the global vanilla market.
“Uganda enjoys two harvest seasons annually, and our vanilla is among the best in aroma and quality,” she said, adding that the government’s licensing of more processing plants has improved market access for farmers.
To sustain farmer interest despite price volatility, stakeholders led by Enimiro Uganda — one of the country’s leading vanilla processors — have partnered with MAAIF and exporters to introduce annual awards recognizing the best vanilla growers.
This year’s award went to Richard Kyabagu of Rakai District. According to Melindar Atuhaire, Enimiro Uganda’s Operations Manager, the awards, covering 12 key vanilla-growing districts including Rubirizi, Kasese, Buikwe, Kayunga, and Sironko, aim to promote excellence and sustainability.
The event also marked the entry of Japan’s Marubeni Corporation as a new buyer of Ugandan vanilla, joining other international firms such as Denmark’s Social Vanilla.
Doreen Mukimba of Marubeni praised Uganda’s vanilla for its superior quality, while Amie N’dong from Social Vanilla urged farmers to embrace intercropping to mitigate price risks.
Despite its progress, Uganda earns only about USD 16.6 million annually from vanilla exports — a fraction of the $16.8 billion global vanilla market.
Experts say this reveals the country’s untapped potential.
Currently, 38 districts grow vanilla, though about 80 percent of Uganda’s arable land is suitable for cultivation.
Except for regions such as Northern Uganda and Karamoja, which face harsh climatic conditions, MAAIF says the crop can thrive across much of the country.
With demand for organic vanilla surging and Uganda’s production capacity rising, experts believe the crop could become one of the country’s most profitable agricultural exports — offering farmers a sustainable path to prosperity.