Vanilla production is likely to drop by 50-60% from last year?s production, as heavy rains hit much of the crop in growing areas, farmers said. Neglect of the vanilla plants due to the steep slump in its price has also led to destruction of the plant in most regions. Lack of proper drainage and the untimely and heavy downpour in the month of September has wrecked most of the farms, with plants getting destroyed due to decomposing of roots and stem, MC Saju, president of the All Kerala Vanilla Planters Association said.
?The production of green beans in 2007-08 could be in the region of 500-600 tonne and processed beans in the range of 100-140 tonne. Central Kerala has suffered the most damage and reports from the Wayanad region are also not encouraging,? Saju said.
The 2006-07 production is estimated at 1500-1700 tonne of green beans and the harvest takes place between October-January. It is estimated that there were 50,000 farmers engaged in vanilla farming at the height of its popularity in an estimated area of 5,000 hectare. The price of vanilla has dropped to a low of Rs 600 per kilogram of cured beans from a high of Rs 20,000 in 2002-03, Saju said. In fact, farmers are finding it difficult to find a buyer even at this depressed price. The global supply of vanilla dwarfs the total demand by more than 700 tonne leading to a free-fall in prices, Saju explained.