Agriculture Ministry to punish farmers harvesting immature vanilla beans

By Our Reporter

27^th July 2023

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has sent a strong warning to farmers involving in harvesting immature vanilla beans.

According to the ministry, harvesting of vanilla in the country will start on July 7, 2022 amidst reports that many vanilla farmers tend to harvest vanilla beans before the stipulated date.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga while addressing the press on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre, Kampala said that the government will take strong punitive action against anyone found harvesting or in possession of vanilla beans before the stipulated date.

Kyakulaga says that picking immature vanilla reduces the quality of vanilla and damages Uganda’s reputation all over the global market.

The stipulated date normally targets farmers whose crops are maturing early whereas vanilla bean maturity varies across the country.

So, to determine the date of maturity, farmers count nine months from the time of pollination before they can harvest.

Kyakulaga noted that the harvest date is set with an aim of ensuring that farmers harvest beans that meet the international market quality standards.

Vanilla is used as a spice for food, beverages, and cosmetics and for pharmaceutical purposes.

Uganda’s vanilla exports are mostly to European countries.

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