Vanilla the cash crop of the Cook Islands
In the mild heat of Friday morning Agricultural Minister Nandi Glassie, Finance Minister Mark Brown, Agriculture Secretary Dr Purea and Agricultural Officer William Wigmore gathered with local vanilla growers including June Baudinet and Danny Mataroa to view two of the several vanilla plantations popping up on the island.
Non commercial Vanilla production which was introduced to the Cook Islands over 40 years is taking a resurgence in Rarotonga and even extending to the Pa Enua. Agricultural Ministers along with other growers of the orchid family were invited to view production and plantation methods of Sepa Tangimetua’s Vaimaanga plantation before touring Teariki Matenga’s 1000 vanilla plant plantation in Titikaveka.
Tangimetua’s plantation has 960 vanilla plants. Establishment cost was estimated at a $20,000 initial production cost with an estimated additional $5,000 in freight costs for outer island vanilla production.
Minister Glassie, aware of the possible role that the Cook Islands could play in supplying the vanilla demand on the international market says, “There is huge demand in the US and on the French market.” However with no investors officially secured, Minister Glassie further expressed “First we need to demonstrate that we can do the job.” Indicating government would then take a lead role in backing the Cook Islands vanilla industry.
Although vanilla production in the Cook Islands still remains in its infancy stages, the Ministry of Agriculture reaffirms that there is “already a market” with high demand extending to America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Sales of the Atiuan grown Mexican variety sold at $50 a bag this week before it had hit the Cook Islands market, reaffirming the viability of vanillas a cash crop to the Cook Islands.
The Ministry of Agriculture is producing a system of support to bump up the rate of vanilla production in Cook Islands as Minister Glassie expressed how pleased he was at the presence of Finance Minister Hon Mark Brown attending the vanilla tour, “The bottom line for any success in agriculture is measured by how much the government can support.” Discussions will be held between Agriculture and Finance ministries on developing technical support and proper cultivation methods and agricultural science to assist potential vanilla growers. -Maria Tanner

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