Africa-Press – Angola. With a production of approximately 80 percent of the world’s vanilla, the largest export product and one of the main sources of revenue collection, the Island of Madagascar, located on the southeast coast of Africa, is considered as the dominant player in the market.
Of all the real vanilla available in the world, 80 percent comes from Madagascar, which has the perfect tropical climate for the flavor to thrive.
In Madagascar, thousands of people, mainly families, have jobs in the vanilla supply chain, the harvest of which is a crucial source of employment in rural communities, forming part of the local economy and contributing to the livelihoods of almost 80,000 farmers.
The average annual production of vanilla in the country is around two thousand tons, contributing significantly to the global supply.
The country’s rich volcanic soil, combined with unique climate patterns, contribute to the incomparable quality of vanilla, which means that the demand for this spice produced in that tropical paradise continues to increase.
Although there are several varieties of vanilla beans available, those from Madagascar have gained a reputation as being the best for their exceptional quality, possessing a unique flavor profile that sets them apart from the rest.
The exceptional quality of Madagascar vanilla beans can be attributed to the traditional agricultural practices and meticulous processing techniques employed by local farmers.
The beans are hand-pollinated and carefully harvested at their peak, then cured and dried using traditional methods that enhance their rich flavor and aroma, an artisanal approach that sets Madagascar vanilla beans apart from those grown in other regions.
Vanilla beans need at least two years to grow, which makes the product the second most expensive spice, after saffron.
Much appreciated for the intensity and complexity of its flavor, which can vary from sweet to slightly spicy, with floral and woody notes, it is used as an ingredient in various culinary recipes, such as desserts, drinks, cakes, ice cream and chocolates.
Despite the relatively high prices of vanilla, a Malagasy earns an average of 1 dollar a day.
Agriculture and mining
Madagascar’s economy is essentially based on agriculture, livestock farming and fishing.
Although rice is the main crop, it is coffee that represents the largest share at farm level.
In 2019, for example, the country produced, as crops with the highest production volume, 4.2 million tons of rice, 3.1 million of sugar cane, 2.9 million of cassava, 1.1 million of potatoes -sweet, 250 thousand of common potatoes, 392 thousand of banana, 298 thousand of mango, 226 thousand of taro, 219 thousand of corn, 104 thousand of pineapple, 83 thousand of orange, and 74 thousand tons of coconut.
Among high-value crops, some for export, the country produced 65 thousand tons of coffee, 13 thousand of grapes, 12 thousand of peach, 10 thousand of cocoa, 7.2 thousand of cashew nuts, 4.6 thousand of pistachios, 3,200 of vanilla and 396 tons of tea.
In mining, in 2019, the country was the 6th largest producer of cobalt in the world, 9th of titanium and the 4th largest generator of graphite in the world.
Madagascar is one of the world’s largest producers of sapphire, topaz, amethyst, ruby, emerald, tourmaline and spinel.
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