The Vanilla Sector in the Comoros in Peril Since 2021: Farmers Question the Future

In this article, we discuss the vanilla industry in the Comoros, which has been facing a deep crisis since 2021, exacerbated by COVID-19 and corruption among the country's authorities.

A Golden Past: Vanilla, Economic Pillar of the Comoros 

Before 2020, vanilla production in the Comoros was a crucial source of income for local farmers. Although Madagascar remained the largest global producer of vanilla, the Comoros were renowned for producing the highest quality pods, with a vanillin content exceeding 2%. The archipelago's production was about one-seventh of Madagascar's in terms of quantity, but Comorian vanilla sold for twice the price: 969 euros per kilo compared to 645 euros for Malagasy vanilla. Despite organizational and regulatory issues, Comorian producers lived comfortably before 2020. Since the 1990s, vanilla exports in the Comoros were monopolized by two large companies favored by the government. In the early 2000s, other exporters were allowed, but they faced logistical challenges and complex, costly export conditions. The government set the price per kilo of vanilla in consultation with the two major exporters, without always considering the efforts of local producers. Nevertheless, production remained relatively stable, allowing farmers to save money and develop their activities.

An Unyielding Crisis: COVID-19 and Corruption Intervene 

Since 2021, the vanilla sector in the Comoros has been in deep crisis. Like in Madagascar, the Comorian government imposed a minimum price per kilo of vanilla, set at $120 in the Comoros and $250 in Madagascar between 2020 and 2023. However, this policy led to an accumulation of hundreds of tons of unsold pods in both countries. Malagasy farmers refused to sell at a loss and stockpiled their production from 2021 and 2022. As a reminder, in 2019, prices had reached over $700/kg, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the market. Demand decreased, and food industries began turning to synthetic vanillin to avoid exorbitant prices. Starting in 2023, Malagasy vanilla sold for $90/kg. In the Comoros, the government and exporters failed to set a new minimum price, leaving farmers in uncertainty. A producer from Ngazidja testifies: "Since 2020, I have been in a deficit of 2,000,000 FC and owe 8,000,000 FC to Maeck (local bank)." Another producer denounces the authorities' practices: "They film our stocks for their own publicity and sell their vanilla abroad, while we are left with unsold pods."

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A Call for Help: Saving Comorian Vanilla 

Today, small Comorian producers are desperate. They call on international buyers to come directly to avoid negotiating with dishonest intermediaries. Despite the crisis, the quality of Comorian vanilla remains unmatched. A major Asian pharmaceutical industry, our customer since 2018, confirms: "Comorian vanilla is the best on the market, and we will continue to source from our friend NF-Vanille des Comores." It is crucial to implement sustainable initiatives to restore hope to Comorian producers and stabilize this essential sector. International buyers and local authorities must collaborate to ensure a prosperous future for Comorian vanilla. The situation remains critical, but with appropriate support and reforms, the vanilla sector in the Comoros can regain its former glory and continue to thrive in the global market.

Article written by Nour Fahad, founder of the company NF-Vanille des Comores