Tripura to be a vanilla hub by next decade

Agartala, Jun 10 (UNI) The exotic Northeast (NE) will now add a hint of vanilla to its unfolding mysteries, thanks to an effort by the Spices Board of India (SBI), which had airlifted 20,000 metres of vanilla vines to Tripura in 2005, a step which appears like a persuasive tribute to the world's favourite ice-cream flavour.

In order to attract the export market, the state government initiated a plan to make Tripura a vanilla hub by the next few years, as the state was blessed by favourable agro-climatic conditions for vanilla.

Speaking to UNI here today, Horticulture Officer Anjan Sengupta said there was huge opportunity for farmers to benefit by cultivation of this high value crop and estimated the rate of returns at a conservative sale price of Rs 400 per kg of processed vanilla beans at the farm gate.

As part of encouraging vanilla cultivation in Tripura, the Horticulture Department undertook a demonstration plantation at Nagicherra on the southern outskirts of Agartala. But the paucity of planting material posed a problem, since it is difficult for vanilla seeds to germinate under normal conditions.

''We are doing propagation through cuttings because vanilla has also been multiplied through tissue culture,'' Mr Sengupta said adding that for commercial vanilla production, hand pollination was essential for fruit-setting as the Mellipona bees and humming birds which pollinated the vanilla flowers were not found in Tripura.

Considering the growing international market and the scope for exploiting the internal domestic market of the country, efforts were being made to increase the area to 3500 hectares by 2010. At present, only about 1000 hectares in the country, including about 150 hectares in Tripura, were cultivated for vanilla.

If Tripura could allot 500 hectares for vanilla plantations, producing atleast 300 kg per hectare at maximum production, then, even at the modest price of Rs 400 per kg of processed vanilla beans, the annual returns would be about Rs six crore.

This is far in excess of any other crop presently cultivated in Tripura and could help the state achieve its dream of bringing prosperity to the people. Besides, about one lakh rooted cuttings of vanilla could be dispatched to Asom, Mizoram and Nagaland, where voluntary agencies are eager to launch the new experiment, Mr Sengupta said.

Vanilla plant, the source of the vanilla essence, a highly valued spice, is actually a climbing orchid - 'Vanilla planifolia', native to Central America. The essence, obtained from the fully-grown but unripe fruits or beans of the plant, is used widely in confectionaries for preparation of ice creams, cakes and puddings, and pharmaceuticals, chocolates and perfumes.

According to records, the price of vanilla varied between 20-25 dollars per kg in the international market and currently the major vanilla producing countries are Indonesia, Mexico and Madagascar.

The major importers are the US, France and Germany, together accounting for 80 per cent of world's consumption. The total export is estimated at around 4000 metric tonne (MT) valued at about 80 million dollars.

The SBI launched an ambitious scheme for vanilla cultivation across the country and plantations have already come up in Karnataka, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and a few states of NE.

Availability of adequate planting stock, training of extension workers and farmers for vanilla cultivation and processing facilities to ensure uniform quality, organised procurement of green beans and ensuring adequate price support to Tripura farmers was essential, SBI officials stated adding that a well-conceived Research programme had been initiated to address the field problems and to offer expertise in production, processing and packaging technology.

Besides, two voluntary groups have been identified by the SBI in Tripura to distribute the vines. More of these agencies were keen to tie up with the Board, SBI officials here said.

They added the Board would send tissue-cultured vines from its capacity in Kochi to be hardened in NE and then distribute them to the farmers.

NE's tryst with vanilla began in 2005 with the SBI entrusting the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) to develop tissue-cultured vines and distribute the hardened ones to voluntary agencies.

About 50,000 of these samples were distributed in the region and planted through the Horticulture Department of the states in NE. The SBI will now specially focus on the region's spice potential and is keen to spread vanilla across the region.

UNI