Karnataka - Mangalore   

Existing societies can help market vanilla: farmers

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, JUNE 25. Farmers who spoke at a South India vanilla farmers' coordination meeting here on Friday said of the existing cooperative societies, some select societies could be convinced to purchase vanilla from farmers and export it.

They said setting up an exclusive cooperative society for the purchase of vanilla and its sale required capital and other infrastructure. Instead, vanilla should be marketed through the existing societies.

U.H. Ramappa said a vanilla mela should be held to facilitate foreign buyers to purchase vanilla directly from farmers. This would help avoid exploitation by middlemen.

In some cases, another participant said, buyers purchased immature vanilla beans from farmers. If this was exported, foreign countries might reject such consignments. The Spices Board should not permit exporters to export such products. The board should formulate a policy to check the quality of beans.

He said farmers should get at least Rs. 15,000 rate a kg for processed (dry) vanilla. Otherwise, the Government should declare minimum support price for vanilla through market intervention scheme.

Satishchandra, member, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), suggested that farmers should not expect hefty price for their produce. Farmers should think in practical terms and cultivate vanilla considering fluctuations in market.

He said the media and some private vanilla purchasing agencies had created hype with regard to the demand for vanilla in the world without making proper assessment. When this was the case, the departments concerned and the Spice Board could have come out with the correct details of the supply and demand of vanilla in the international market. The authorities concerned had failed to study the market aspects to guide farmers properly. Manchi Srinivas Achar, president of the All India Areca Growers' Association, said farmers should strive to build an Indian image by maintaining the quality of their agricultural produces. An Indian brand image should be developed.

A farmer from Davangere said farmers were in confusion over whether they should grow vanilla organically or they could use chemical fertilizers and sprays. The Spices Board and Department of Horticulture differed in giving suggestions, he claimed.

The meeting was organised by Dakshina Kannada unit of the Sangha.

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