MP prioritises commercial vanilla farming

COMMERCIAL vanilla farming to empower people of North Fly, Western, is a priority, MP James Donald says.
Donald said after prioritising rice farming and milling, commercialisation of rubber, fruit and vegetable farming, the North Fly development authority was investing in commercial vanilla farming as he believed in its economic potential in the district.
“North Fly vanilla farmers and any interested people should be gearing up for vanilla cultivation if you haven’t planted yet,” he said.
“Your vanilla bean purchasing, processing and market facility is taking shape and soon to be ready within the next eight months.”
Donald said the facility was expected to be fully operational by mid-2022 (June or July), as according to developer Israeli Innovative Agro group and West Agro Holdings management.
The agriculture company said the facility would have controlled tunnels growing vanilla producing beans in volumes and have a harvesting, processing and packaging facility.
“It’s more of controlled vanilla estate producing itself while our farmers’ produce will be just a compliment,” he said.