Vanilla industry needs control: MP

The National Government, through the Agriculture Department, must take a serious look at the uncontrolled booming vanilla industry in parts of East and West Sepik Province.

Maprik MP John Simon says while vanilla prices have picked up, with many villagers making good money, many other issues that might threaten the sustainability of the industry have also risen. 

Maprik Town in East Sepik Province is the main hub for the selling and buying of vanilla beans.

Currently a kilo of well dried beans is selling between K800 to K1,100.

While the MP is proud that his district is currently the main economic hub for East and West Sepik, he is concerned that the demand for vanilla, which has lured in buyers from all over the country, might crumble, as experienced in the past.

Waiting for the Agriculture Department to take action might be too late, so Maprik, through the District Development Authority, is now looking at avenues to properly regulate the buying and selling of vanilla in the town. 

Author: 
Charmaine Poriambep