Kiunga eyes overseas market with vanilla production

VANILLA is the main focus of the Kiunga Agro-Industrial Centre (AIC) in North Fly, according to an official.
West Agro Holdings and Fly Vanilla chairman Ian Middleton said vanilla would be processed in a facility in Kiunga under the Fly Vanilla brand.
“Farmers will be shareholders of Fly Vanilla and from the sale of their produce,” Middleton said.
“The vanilla market is growing and we are looking at targeting the United States and Europe.
“Through our partnership with the Innovative Agro Industry, (IAI), we have all of the buyers ready and waiting on production.”
He encouraged multi-cropping in the province.
“We already have over 10,000 hectares of cleared land under rubber production in Western,” Middleton said.
“The rubber price has fallen significantly because of synthetic rubber and many farmers have consequently neglected their rubber plantations.
“So we need to find ways to maintain these for future tapping.
“If a farmer wants to plant vanilla, they first have to plant a shade tree and then plant the vanilla vines underneath.
“So they have to wait for up to a year for the shade tree to grow sufficiently to provide cover before planting vanilla.
“But if we use the standing rubber blocks, we don’t have to wait.
“The rubber trees are already there and they will provide the shade,” Middleton said.
“With the support of IAI and Ok Tedi Development Foundation, trial vanilla plots planted in rows under rubber plantations have already started with encouraging results.
“This way, within three years, farmers should have their first vanilla beans ready for harvest and sale.”