RUBIRIZI- Vanilla farmers in Katerera Sub – county Rubrizi district are crying out for help from the government since their vanilla plantations are now rotting due to lack of market that has left them stuck even with no ways of survival.
Through their Association Rwandaro Vanila Farmers Cooperative, they have raised their voice to the government to help them get market so that they can get money to buy what to eat, meet their other basic needs as well as paying loans they had acquired as starting capital while starting the Vanilla project.
In a meeting held at Kanyansande earlier this week, farmers said they won’t sit down and see their vanillas rot but will look for any ways or even hold demonstrations so that the government can listen to their concerns.
Farmers including Twineomujuni Isameli and Peter Bamparana say they remain confused asking themselves why the government has not done enough in looking for them in the market and why the vanilla price keeps decelerating everyday which is also worrying them.
They say they had got loans from SACCOs and money from the Parish Development Model (Government Initiative) to start and support the project but are currently stranded because they have no money to pay back and vanillas have started rotting.
Sebugwaho Fabiano (Chairman Vanilla Farmers) told our reporter that they have always informed their leaders about this matter but nothing has been done. Some farmers vowed not to participate in the 2026 elections if the government fails to sort their problem.
We talked to Rubikyire Anatori chairman Katanda Sub – county about this matter, he wants the government through ministry of Disaster preparedness to come up with a solution and help out these farmers since they invested alot in the vanilla project.
Anatori showed his dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Agriculture who put strict laws on vanilla farming compared to other crops . He then challenged the government to maintain a constant price for vanilla so that its farmers can benefit from it.
Katushabe Sylivia, the Agricultural Officer Katanda Sub – county blamed some farmers for applying fake and improper spray drugs on their vanillas, which may be the cause of rotting. Katushabe requested farmers to keep calm and be patient, hoping that their issue will be tackled soonest.
