Coke boosts local vanilla

Oct 07, 2002

The plan by the Atlanta based Coca Cola Company to introduce a vanilla flavoured soft drink, has boosted the local ‘plant more vanilla’ campaign which started early this year

By Macrines Nyapendi

The plan by the Atlanta based Coca Cola Company to introduce a vanilla flavoured soft drink, has boosted the local ‘plant more vanilla’ campaign which started early this year.
“The farmers were advised by experts to improve on production and quality, if they were to cash in on the lucrative vanilla Coke bid,” Henry Kibuuka, the Uganda National Vanilla Association Co-ordinator told The New Vision last week.
Vanilla planting is booming partly in anticipation of an increased demand for the spice by the world’s biggest soft drinks company.
Another reason has been the attractive prices offered to farmers. Farmgate prices have ranged from sh25,000 to sh40,000 a kilo depending on the quality of the vanilla and the specific buyer involved.
Earlier this year, Coca Cola mooted plans for the possibilities of introducing the new drink.
Farmers in all Uganda’s main growing districts have increased their orders for planting materials. These include vines and shrubs, which has sent prices soaring.
A vine and shrub goes for sh1200 up from the previous sh600, before the plant more vanilla campaign was launched.
According to sources, if Coca Cola’s new product takes off, the company could use over 10% of the world’s naturally grown vanilla. Vanilla after saffron is the most sought after spice.
“By the year 2004 Uganda’s production will be up by 50% in the major seasons and 30% in the minor seasons. We receive a minimum of seven people per day who desperately in need of planting materials and formal training on how to grow and handle the spice,”Kibuuka said.
He said: “The planting materials are available but at a higher cost, most farmers are widening their gardens”.
The Uganda National Vanilla Association has registered a total of 300 prospective farmers in the last five months of the campaign.
The leading vanilla growing districts in Uganda are Bundibugyo, Mukono and Mbale.

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