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Financial costs associated with a Vanilla Smallholding To establish a Vanilla Garden, a sequence of operations has to be undertaken. This sequence will cover a period of 3 years. It is assumed that the land is already owned.
To start with land has to be cleared. Shade trees and support trees have to be planted. They need to establish and grow a bit. Some may have to be replaced because of death.
A worked example is included. Costs have been worked out to establish a ½ Acre (0.4 Ha) plot.
In the example, the shade trees and support trees will cost Ushs 149,000, and will use 15 Days family labour (costing Ushs 37,500) and 35 days hired labour (costing Ushs 122,500).
The initial establishment costs total Ushs 652,000
Once the shade and support trees are established. Vanilla vines need to be purchased (these cots Ushs 80,000). Planting the Vanilla vines must be done fast (using family labour costing Ushs 7,500).
In our example the purchase and planting of the Vanilla Vines is Ushs 87,500.
General maintenance, such as weeding, mulching, looping, pruning the shade trees, pruning the support trees, mounding and adding manure are important activities. It is assumed that no inorganic fertiliser or pest control chemicals are used.
In our example, general maintenance will use 120 days of family labour (costing Ushs 325,000) and 110 days hired labour (Costing Ushs 385,000). This labour will be required over a 3-year period. In the 1st year of production, general maintenance and vine management consisting of weeding, pruning of shade trees, mulching and manuring must be undertaken.
In our example, the 1st year of production will require 140 days of family labour (Costing Ushs 310,000) and 70 days of hired labour (costing Ushs 246,000).
During the production phase, family labour will be responsible for pollination and harvesting. In our example, pollination and harvesting takes 120 days (Costing Ushs 424,000). But because of theft, a security guard is employed to protect the plantation (costing Ushs 450,000).

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