Bruno Mugizi
Vanilla farmers in Rubirizi District have on Monday staged a demonstration over the continued decrease in prices in the district.
Led by their chairperson Ssebugwawo Fabian, farmers noted that a kilogram which used to be sold at sh30,000 shillings has since declined to between sh2000-sh5000.
They now want the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene and provide markets for their crop since it’s been their major source of income.
“I planted two acres of vanilla that I can’t even eat as food,” said Ssebugwawo who said he was contemplating removing the crop from his farm.
Isameli Twinomujuni, a vanilla farmer, said that they risk losing property to banks because they have been using loans to invest in the crop.
Meanwhile, Sylvia Katushabe, the Katnda sub-county senior agriculture officer, accused some district officials of introducing a market monopoly which has affected vanilla prices in the district.
