Madagascar recovering from vanilla crop damage

In April 2000, cyclone Hudah raged through Madagascar's prolific SAVA vanilla growing region. The area—an acronym for the towns Sambava, Andapa, Vohemar and Antalaha—reported severe economic and humanitarian damage from the storm. Although the storm caused damage to both vanilla crops and warehousing facilities, particularly in the Antalaha region, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas (Waukeegan, IL) reports that the storm's effect was not as bad as been feared.

The crop yield for the 2000-2001 vanilla growing season was expected to be 1,200 tons, prior to the storm. Current estimates have been scaled down to a yield of between 8000 and 950 tons. This reflects a crop loss of between 21% and 32% for the season. Paired with an existing supply deficit from 1999, Hudah has eliminated any chance of recovering the shortfall.

Nielsen-Massey's suppliers in Madagascar speculate that prices for Madagascar Bourbon vanilla will escalate as a result of the cyclone damage, but currently are unable to estimate ultimate price levels at. Nevertheless, they remain confident that the SAVA vanilla growing region will remain as one of the island's major sources of revenue. Many newer plantations on Madagascar survived Hudah with little or no damage and will start producing in about two years.

Edited by Scott Hegenbart
Managing Editor, Food Ingredients Online