Vanilla Is The 2nd Most Expensive Spice. So Why Do Madagascar's Farmers Live In Poverty?

Vanilla is one of the world's most expensive spices because it's so labor-intensive to grow. Madagascar is responsible for 80% of the world's supply. And there, each vanilla orchid blooms for just one day a year. Farmers have to hand-pollinate each flower because the plant isn't native to the island. In recent years, the tough work has paid off, as vanilla prices soared to $600 per kilo in 2018.

But why, if vanilla outpriced silver, are Madagascar farmers still in poverty? Farmers face fluctuating prices, unfair cuts of profits, and vanilla thieves stealing their crops. We head to Madagascar to see how farmers are trying to protect their "green gold."

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[ptunhapong]

Thank you so much for great documentary. Didn't know a simple Vanilla could cause such a trouble over there.

[oliverkhams]

What is the temperature there? What is the favourable temperature for the vanilla plants?

[sto]

4:07 - Wow... I'm a grown ass man and would've never thought a 12 year old slave was the smartest one to figure out on how to pollinate our most addicted and beloved vanilla beans which billions of people take granted for, yet still to this very day we use his technique but give no recognition to him. I bet you a nice bag of premium Vanilla beans that not a single vanilla bean worker at Madagascar knows who exactly is Edmond Albius, possibly the Big Boss Man raking in the cash crop knows his name. Only one of the very few black persons worth remembering their name, brought great contribution to the world. 13:05 - How the dude read the weight with the scale's packaging sticker still on it?

[cabdiqani]

Farmers should grow food, rather than vanilla.

[godSPARDA]

Is there any way I can support these farmers?? Donating, traveling there with a company??

[harryhole]

Parce que Madagascar a un président nul;