Locals set to export vanilla

THE people of Mumeng local level government (LLG) in Bulolo, Morobe, have launched a vanilla export licence and will now be able to export their local vanilla produce.
With 576 registered members and more than 5,000 vanilla farmers in the LLG, they have sent samples of their vanilla to the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) in the US.
They will start exporting vanilla soon after their licence is granted by PNG National Spice Industry board.
During the launching of the licence last Friday, Mumeng District Vanilla Cooperative Society (MDVCS) chairman Mathias Philip said the idea of growing and exporting vanilla came from Morobe administrator Bart Ipambonj.
Ipambonj encouraged him to group farmers, grow vanilla, extract its oil and export it in 2016.
“Through ELCPNG (Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG) Mumeng district, we started doing awareness and encourage people to plant vanilla and later though of registering a cooperative,” Philip said.
“Fast forward, we now have seven directors, five managers consisting of a full team to carry the cooperative forward.
“ASTA had tested our sample and the quality was graded 93 per cent.
“By June, we will receive food security certificate from UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and then we will start exporting.
“We were also invited to attend the International Trade Show in Berlin, Germany on Oct 20, 2020 to display our vanilla there and it’s an opportunity for more markets to sell our produce.”
Morobe Governor, Ginson Saonu said it is the first for a vanilla project in a big way in the province. “As government, we will only push you to achieve your goal,” Saonu said.
“We will continue to support economic activities in the province and help other cooperative groups to come to the stage you are in now.”
National Spice Industry Board chairman Whisper Diru encouraged the locals to plant more vanilla and must have quality control.
“Quality is important,” Diru said.