What strategy should be adopted for Malagasy vanilla to find takers?
End of the prepared vanilla campaign (bulk vanilla) in Madagascar.
RFI/Sarah Tetaud
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Monday, February 6, on the Big Island, 70 of the 90 accredited vanilla exporters responded to the invitation from the Minister of Industry and Trade.
Gathered around the same table, the major operators in the sector presented their – divergent – visions in an attempt to stem this new crisis which is raging in the sector, namely the slump in the black bean.
As a reminder, since the start of the campaign last November, Madagascar has exported almost ten times less vanilla than last year at the same time.
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With our correspondent in Antananarivo,
Sarah Tétaud
After a meeting of three hours and thirty minutes behind closed doors, the exporters left the room one by one, reluctant to speak on the microphone, leaving it to Georges Geeraerts, president of the Madagascar Vanilla Exporters Group, to ensure Communication.
Faced with his peers, the latter took the liberty of recalling that since the liberalization of the vanilla trade in 1995, this crisis suffered by the sector was unique in its kind, by its nature.
“
This third crisis is due to the existence of a parallel market which was created and then exacerbated in Madagascar itself between exporters who follow the rule and others who circumvent it.
What was clearly stated by the exporters is not more control, but more respect for the rules.
But now, to impose this respect for the rules, I do not see how we could do it without control
, ”he underlines.
Several measures announced on February 8
And this rule in question is the famous minimum selling price dictated by the State, of $ 250 per kilo, "
a price, the result of a long process of consultation with the actors of the sector
", recalls the ministry. .
In off, some concede that during the Assembly, three groups clearly emerged.
Those who are for the total liberalization of prices, those who want a lowering of the floor price and those, apparently in the majority, who advocate maintaining the price of $250 per kilo.
“
The exchanges that have been made are to find adequate solutions in relation to everything that is happening now with the vanilla sector.
There, we are in the process of applying the regulations for everyone so that there is not an injured exporter in the sector.
We will therefore take note of what has been said and we will come back, Wednesday
[February 8]
, here, to give the solutions, to manage the vanilla sector in Mada
”, informs Edgard Razafindravahy, the Minister of Industry and Trade, interviewed after the meeting.
For many, regaining the confidence of international buyers must go through an uncompromising clean-up of the sector, even if it means withdrawing a good number of approvals.
Several measures should be announced during the day.
► To read also: Arm wrestling around Malagasy vanilla
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