(Ecofin Agency) - In Madagascar, early harvest of green vanilla by Malagasy producers in the Sambava, one of the country’s main producing areas, situated in its north-eastern part, has impaired the quality of the pods, Reuters reported.

Indeed, vanilla’s quality is directly related to its maturity, therefore harvesting the beans too early brings down the percentage of vanillin in them, the molecule that is responsible for vanilla’s flavour.

Usually ranging between 1.6 and 1.8%, the phenomenon could bring the percentage of the compound down to 1% only according to Georges Geeraerts, head of the Madagascar Group of Vanilla Exporters (GEVM). The executive adds that when harvested prematurely 7-8kh of green vanilla is needed to get a kg of prepared vanilla, while normally only 4-5kg is needed.

Most producers harvesting the beans too early explain their action by the growth of theft in plantations.

In this regards, Alain Rabeharison, a vanilla farmer in the region Antalaha, interviewed by Reuters, however blame the inability of those producers to protect their farms against thieves.

“Some people are ready to kill to get the vanilla”, said Olivier Mahafaly, Madagascar’s Prime Minister. According to him, in the 15 months ended last March, 90 cases of thefts were recorded and 173 people involved in the crimes were arrested over the period. The thefts involved a volume of four tons of the beans.

Let’s recall that Madagascar is the world’s leading producer and producer. The sector contributes 5% of the country’s GDP and is a source of living for around 80,000 farmers located in the north eastern part of the Island, knowingly in Sambava, Antalaha, Vohémar and Andapa.

Espoir Olodo