The VINES Project is transforming Uganda’s vanilla sector by enhancing the production of safe, pure Ugandan vanilla and facilitating sustainable market linkages.
Context
The VINES project is a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catholic Relief Services, TechnoServe, and key players in the vanilla industry. Its goal is to establish Uganda as a premier supplier of high-quality vanilla, aiming to boost exports from 50 Metric Tonnes (MT) to 350 MT annually by 2025. VINES focuses on promoting the production of safe, clean, and pure vanilla while creating sustainable market connections with buyers in the U.S., directly impacting the lives of 16,200 farmers and 836 supply chain participants. This project is expected to generate over 15,820 new job opportunities.
Partners
The VINES consortium includes TechnoServe, Catholic Relief Services, Virginia Dare, Purdue University, and the Association of Vanilla Exporters of Uganda (VANEX). Together, they aim to enhance vanilla production, improve quality, ensure compliance with food safety standards, and develop sustainable market relationships with both U.S. and global companies in the vanilla sector.
The Strategy
In the consortium, TechnoServe is tasked with enhancing the business viability and capacity of various stakeholders in the vanilla value chain. At the micro-enterprise level, TechnoServe is equipping commercially-oriented farmers and agripreneurs—especially youth and women—with essential business, finance, and soft skills to support the launch and growth of enterprises that provide necessary inputs and services for vanilla farmers.
At the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) level, the initiative provides training and advisory services to build the business and technical capacity of Commercially oriented farmers, Vanilla aggregators/traders, Farmer Producer organizations and processors/exporters. This empowerment ensures they become reliable and competitive business partners capable of delivering high-quality, food safety-compliant vanilla that meets buyer demands.
Vanilla Producing Districts in Uganda
The project targets multiple districts known for vanilla production, including Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Gomba, Ibanda, Kabarole, Kagadi, Kalungu, Kasese, Kayunga, Kyenjojo, Luwero, Lwengo, Masaka, Mbarara, Mityana, Mukono, Ntoroko, Rakai, Rubirizi, and Sheema.
