Uganda: Vanilla Farmers Suffer Losses As Prices Drop

Prices of vanilla in the central region have drastically reduced in the past six months, causing heavy losses to farmers. Currently, a kilogramme of dried vanilla seeds costs Shs50,000 down from Shs300,000 per kilogramme. Mr Peter Musisi, the chairperson of the vanilla farmers in Masaka District, said they had heavily invested in the crop this season. "Growing vanilla requires huge investment, including hiring security guards to protect gardens from armed thugs who come from as far as Kampala," Mr Musisi said at the weekend. On average, vanilla farmers pay Sh900,000 per private guard during the entire season, which lasts six months. Farmers say the high-value export commodity forces people to steal immature vanilla from the farm. In Buikwe District, vanilla farmers blame the fall in prices on the coronavirus pandemic that halted international buyers from coming into the country. Mr Semaino Ssekisaka, the chairperson of Galikokolima Vanilla Farmers Group in Makonge Village, Malogwe ...