Ugandan vanilla exports fell to approximately 455 metric tonnes last year, generating about $16.19 million, according to Barbara Komushaago, the vanilla focal person at the Ministry of Agriculture. This represents a drop from the 603 metric tonnes produced in 2024, which earned about $21.9 million. Komushaago attributed the decline to climate change, price fluctuations that discourage farmers, and widespread theft of the high-value crop.
Uganda ranks as the world's second-largest vanilla producer after Madagascar, but the crop is grown in only 37 districts. The Sustainable Vanilla Initiative rates Uganda's vanilla vanillin content at 4.5 out of five, with vanillin being the compound responsible for vanilla's characteristic aroma. Komushaago said Uganda's vanillin content exceeds four per cent, giving the country a competitive advantage over other producing nations.
Enimiro Uganda, a vanilla processor, currently purchases up to 250 metric tonnes of vanilla from farmers each season but aims to increase procurement to 500 metric tonnes. Chief operations officer Melindar Atuhaire said the company sources vanilla from 24 districts and sees growing customer demand from the United States, Europe and Japan. However, price instability remains a concern, with farmers reporting that the farm-gate price currently stands at 20,000 Ugandan shillings per kilogramme.
Stakeholders have introduced annual awards to recognise outstanding vanilla growers and encourage farmers to maintain plantations despite challenges. Vanilla farmer Benon Abaine from Ibanda District said he earned about 20 million shillings from one metric tonne in his second season. However, farmers also face obstacles including government-set harvesting dates that do not account for regional growing season variations and crop theft.