Vanilla Prices Soar
Washington DC (April 20, 2002) - Vanilla growers,
processors and exporters in Uganda are benefiting from high
world market prices for vanilla. This year,
processors/exporters are selling vanilla for US$80-US$200 per
kilogram depending on quality and order quantity,
substantially up from prices of US$20 per kilogram received in
the last several years.
In Uganda, the farmers sell green vanilla beans to processors
who cure and dry them to
24-28
percent moisture content over a three-month period. The ratio
of green to processed bean is about six to one. This year the
farmers will receive $5-10 per kilo, depending on quality.
"We expect prices may hold for the rest of the year, but will
eventually fall over the next two years to about 25 percent of
the current level," stated Steve New, Fintrac's High-Value
Crop Advisor based in Uganda. Nevertheless, even at these
levels, vanilla beans are an attractive cash crop for small
farmers.
The Ugandan vanilla industry is relatively young. Before 1996,
annual exports of cured vanilla beans were generally well
under 5 MTs. However, since 1996 production and exports have
been increasing rapidly.
Vanilla in Uganda is produced primarily by small farmers in
the districts of Mukono, Iganga, Jinja, Mbale, Kabarole,
Bundibugyo, Masaka, Kasese and Mpigi. Technical assistance
from the USAID-funded Agribusiness Development Center has led
to a rapid increase in the number of small farmers producing
vanilla, as well as an improvement in quality and yields.
Vanilla has proved to be an excellent supplemental income
source for the poor farmers in Uganda. It is often
interplanted with other crops such as coffee and bananas.
Most of Ugandan vanilla is produced organically, using
organic composts for fertilizer. The USAID-funded Agribusiness
Development Center
is assisting with the certification of organically produced
vanilla through collaboration with specific growers and
exporters.
Because there are two annual dry seasons in Ugandan growing
regions, two harvests are possible per year. Flowering and
pollination for the major season occurs around September and
October, with harvesting in June and July of the following
year. Flowering and pollination for the minor season occurs
around May and June, with harvesting in January and February
of the following year.
Ugandan vanilla growers have received extensive training in
the last several years from the Agribusiness Development
Centre in proper spacing, shade control, pollination, pruning,
looping of vines, and selection of mature beans. The result
has been increased yields and harvesting of excellent quality
mature beans.
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