A group of 50 vanilla farmers in Bukoba District, Kagera Region are finalising plans to register a new Agricultural Marketing and Cooperative Society (AMCOS) to improve the quality of vanilla and get higher prices at the market.
“For a long time, farmers in Kagera Region depended on coffee as their main cash crop. Thus, diversifying to vanilla will greatly improve the farmers’ economy and livelihoods,” said Mr Deusdedith Mwombeki, the Secretary of the new Vanilla Kagera AMCOS known as Vanilla Kagera AMCOS.
During the meeting held in Bukoba Municipal Council yesterday, vanilla farmers unanimously agreed to form three groups where they will be drying the vanilla and getting the needed expertise from the agricultural extension officers.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kagera Region have invited private companies to buy the vanilla crop by offering competitive prices to the farmers.
Acting Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr Isaya Tendega revealed the information during a recent stakeholders meeting that was attended by vanilla farmers, representatives of private companies and agricultural experts from the eight Councils.
“The government is inviting private companies to buy vanilla crops by offering competitive prices to the farmers,” he said.
Over 300 tonnes of vanilla crops are ready for selling while buyers should buy a kilogramme of vanilla at 15,000/-.
He directed District Agricultural Irrigation and Cooperative Officers (DAICOs) in the eight Councils namely Muleba, Bukoba DC, Biharamulo, Ngara, Karagwe, Kyerwa, Missenyi and Bukoba MC to register vanilla farmers and assist them to form AMCOS.
“This will facilitate easy traceability of the vanilla farmers to know where they are located and how much vanilla had been produced.
DAICOs in the eight Councils should also register the vanilla farmers and assist them to form AMCOS,” Mr Tendega said.