Sarawakians will have chance to plant ‘green gold’ on a commercial basis soon

PARIS Hilton loves it so much that she uses it as one of the main ingredients for her ‘Just Me’ eau de parfum spray, which, in Malaysia, is priced at RM198.99 per 50ml bottle and RM243.99 for 100ml.

Hilton’s good friend Britney Spears is also a fan who includes it in her line of perfumes. Even Australian siren Kylie Minogue’s perfume uses it.

Vanilla is so fragrant that it is revered by western celebrities and their fans.

No longer is vanilla viewed as just a popular flavouring for ice cream and drinks. It is now one of the key elements for perfumery because of its sweet and, some say, seductive smell.

In the old days, vanilla was even described as an aphrodisiac and used as a remedy for fevers. The essential oil of vanilla is also used in aromatherapy.

Due to its versatility in many ‘money-making’ industries, it is no wonder that vanilla is one of the world’s highly-prized crops. Vanilla beans currently fetch prices in the region of RM200 per kg, but in 2004 reached US$400 (about RM2,000) per kg, thus earning it the title ‘green gold’.

Despite competition posed by synthetic vanilla, the demand for natural vanilla is still greater because it not only consists of the alluring vanillin aroma but also other aromatic compounds which all add to its value. Synthetic vanilla, produced artificially from compounds other than vanilla, only contains the vanillin aroma.

Because of this, it comes as no surprise that the United States is the largest importer of vanilla. Currently the US imports two-thirds of the world’s vanilla, while the European Union takes 30 per cent and Japan six per cent.

Malaysia is also an importer, but things may change soon. Through the trail-blazing initiative of Kuala Lumpur-based Rentak Timur Sdn Bhd, Malaysia looks set to become a major vanilla producing country by year 2010.

A few states have already started to plant vanilla seedlings and it will soon be Sarawak’s turn.

Although the world’s vanilla production is dominated by Madagascar (60 per cent of global share) and Indonesia (21 per cent), Malaysia is poised to catch up quickly as there are vast acres of land available for planting.

The state government, through its Land Development Ministry, has had several meetings with Rentak Timur regarding vanilla farming in Sarawak.

A seminar on vanilla for interested farmers is likely to be held in the State next month.

In an interview with thesundaypost last month, Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said vanilla is the perfect crop for smallholders because of the huge production rate and economic returns as well as low labour and planting area requirements.

“A well-maintained half acre of vanilla plants can fetch RM64,000 per year. In one acre of about 2,000 vines, the revenue could be RM100,000 per year.

“The advantage is that it involves light work, and does not require a lot of land. Therefore to me, it is the perfect smallholder crop. If you have one acre of land to spare, that is more than enough,” said Masing after visiting Rentak Timur’s office and nursery centre.

Origins of vanilla

The plant which produces vanilla beans is actually an orchid, a native to the tropical forests of Mexico which is now grown in many other parts of the globe. It is also the only fruit-bearing member of the orchid family. Orchids, of course, are creepers.

Vanilla has been used by Mexicans since time immemorial and was made known to the western world by the Spaniards.

The vanilla planted by Rentak Timur is from the Vanilla planifolia, Andrews, suitable for commercial planting in Malaysia and is also said to be of a high quality.

Research initiated by Rentak Timur has shown that weather and soil conditions in Malaysia allow the plant to thrive.

Manual pollination of the crop is possible through manual labour and Rentak Timur will teach this method to farmers as part of the company’s services.

Vanilla farming potential

Rentak Timur expects to produce 100 to 300 metric tonnes of vanilla in Malaysia by 2010.

Since the company’s incorporation on April 27, 2004, more than 120,000 vanilla plants have been planted in several states in the peninsular through joint ventures with 100 contract farmers.

Last year, Rentak Timur signed a memorandum of understanding with Sabah’s Rural Cooperative Development (KPD) agency under Sabah’s Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry in a joint effort to eradicate poverty there.

A 100-acre area in Lumadan, Beaufort, has been identified for the trial vanilla planting project. Rentak Timur is aiming to plant 2,500 acres of vanilla in Sabah.

Its plans in Sarawak will most likely be formulated once the company’s officials come here to hold seminars and further discussions on the issue with state authorities.

Rentak Timur has a five-acre vanilla seedlings and nursery centre in Temerloh, Pahang from which it supplies cuttings and seedlings for the domestic market.

It also has a RM14 million processing factory where it produces Malaya Spice, a brand from Rentak Timur. The line includes the world’s first halal organic vanilla extract, other pure extracts/flavourings, essential oils, spices and nutraceutical products.

Under its joint venture with contract farmers, Rentak Timur supplies vanilla plants at between RM10 and RM14 each depending on quality. The company will then buy back the harvest for between RM35 and RM50 per kg.

The global demand for natural vanilla is unlikely to wane. In the ice-cream manufacturing industry, manufacturers prefer natural vanilla because it has a distinctive taste unlike synthetic vanilla which only offers an aroma.

Total worldwide production of ice cream and related frozen desserts is in the region of 14.4 billion litres — an average of 2.4 litres per person — and is worth US$35 billion. Vanilla is the most popular flavour, accounting for about a quarter of sales.

Vanilla Coke, a variant soft drink produced by Coca Cola, is still very popular worldwide, and many other companies, including those producing liquors, have produced new variants using vanilla.

The lucrative designer perfume industry also values the scent produced by vanilla.

Thanks to the efforts of the Land Development Ministry, Sarawakians, especially those in the rural areas, will soon get to share in the sweet success of planting vanilla and helping Malaysia reach its goal to become a major vanilla producing country.