Bangalore: With a view to promoting the export of vanilla, which is being grown by farmers as an alternative crop in the State, the Union Government has initiated Agri-Export Zones (AEZs) for this particular crop in the State.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by K.S. Money, Chairman, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and State Director for Horticulture G.K. Vasantha Kumar here on Friday for this purpose.

The AEZ will cover Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, Kodagu and Chikmagalur districts.

"There is a great demand for vanilla in the global market and we need to tap this opportunity. It will also mean better income for farmers, better competitiveness and better share in the global market," Mr. Money said.

Minister for Horticulture Shashikanth Akkappa Naik said the project would be implemented for three years, with contribution from the Union Government, State Government and the Spices Board, Kochi. The cost of the AEZ project for vanilla was Rs. 2.56 crore.

Of the 1,800 acres of land, in which vanilla is being cultivated, 1,081 acres are in Karnataka and the State accounts for 47 of the 65 tonnes of vanilla produced in the country. This can be taken up to 300 tonnes by setting up of AEZs, he added.

The average size of vanilla garden is only 1.50 acres. With the implementation of AEZ for vanilla, 2,500 families were expected to benefit directly. Mr. Vasantha Kumar said the vanilla crop grown in Karnataka was of superior quality and there was a demand all over the world for vanilla for use as flavour in various foods.

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