India has been the land of choicest spices and the best aroma breezes from its soil from immemorial time. The rarest spices and condiments of this nation has lured many mariners from around the world and they were fascinated by the sweet fragrance, pungent tastes and oleoresin qualities of the spices like cardamom, pepper, nutmeg, saffron and vanilla. Vanilla is an orchid, cultivated for its pleasant flavour. In the context of unprecedented crises in farm sector contributed by host of factors vanilla has become a lantern of hope to farmers assuring them of comparatively better prospects in terms of profit for their investment and efforts. There is an international market of 3000 tonnes of Vanilla beans. Vanilla has a good scope for development in India considering the domestic demand & the export potential. It can be grown as an Intercrop in coconut & areca nut gardens. Since the price of vanilla beans is quite high, the cultivation of vanilla is a very attractive proposition for Indian farmers.
