“The Central government should protect the interest of the country’s vanilla growers, by imposing a ban on the import of synthetic vanillin from other countries”, said Indian Vanilla Growers Association President P M Ramu.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the vanilla growers convention and technical training workshop, held in Davangere on Sunday.
Synthetic vanillin is harmful. Its use is high in the preparation of ice creams, medicines and other such products. Bitumen, paper molasses are used in the preparation of Vanillin. Thus, its use should be banned. Instead, the natural vanillin, which is produced in our own country should be given importance, observed  Mr Ramu.
Nearly, 700 metric tonne of synthetic vanillin is imported from foreign countries. If only the natural vanillin made in the country is given encouragement, then the vanilla growers can also heave a deep sigh of relief. Against this background, the government by imposing high import duty on synthetic vanillin should curtail its entry into the Indian markets, he opined.
In the world nearly 5,400 metric tonne of vanilla is produced, However, in Karnataka alone 300 metric tonne of vanilla is produced. Moreover, India stands in the sixth place, when it comes to the export of vanilla, he said.
Good Quality
Also, the quality of vanilla grown in our country is on par with the vanilla grown in Madagascar. However, due to cut throat competition and lack of communication the Indian vanilla growers are losing on the quality. Thus, awareness needs to be created among the growers, suggested Mr Ramu.
The report submitted by the Exim Bank is very positive about the vanilla cultivation in the country. According to the report, in the future vanilla would procure fair price. Thus, inorder to protect the interests of the growers  a legislation should be brought  about, he added.
Also, speaking on the occasion industrialist Anaberu Rajanna said that the country could progress only when the farmers formulated the agricultural policies.