Handbook of Vanilla Science and Technology

As one of the solutions to the problem of disease, a new vanilla cultivar, called “Vaitsy”, from the Investigation and Research Institute of Agriculture in Madagascar was brought to Costa Rica. The proper species designation and the history of development of “Vaitsy” in Madagascar are not known. It is possible that it is the V. planifolia × V. pompona interspecific hybrid from Costa Rica, described in Chapter 15 by Belanger and Havkin-Frenkel. It was given to scientists at the Costa Rican Polytechnic University in Santa Clara, San Carlos, where the tissue culture propagation of vanilla was developed. Private laboratories obtained the technology and the mother plant to continue vegetative reproduction of the new vanilla cultivar. The first new vanilla plants of “Vaitsy” were planted with amazing results. The plants had good Fusarium resistance and produced large beans, up to 26 cm long, with a 30 g average weight per green bean.

The planting of the new cultivar was not the only technological advancement. The intensive vanilla cultivation under shade cloth was also improved. More than 46 hectares of vanilla were planted in a sophisticated system using organic mediums, less use of pesticides, improved cultural practices such as drainage systems and water irrigation systems and biological control of diseases. The vanilla production was on the way. But the future is unpredictable. After 4 years of practical experience in production, the vanilla bean price began to drop in 2004. By 2005, when Costa Rica had the first large vanilla bean harvest, the vanilla price dropped dramatically. Marketing vanilla beans was difficult and the profit was not enough. Some vanilla companies abandoned the plantations and went into more profitable businesses. Some vanilla plantations still struggle to survive.

Curiously, in 2006, despite the hard times for marketing, the National University of Costa Rica supported vanilla plantations using live tutors. Native trees such as pochote (Bombacopsis quinatum), neem (Azadirachta indica), teak (Tectona grandis), and others are being used (Paniagua 2006). The general objective of the program is to improve non-traditional crops as an economical alternative and support reforestation in the province of Guanacaste. Some other farmers in different parts of the country began planting vanilla as an economical alternative in hard times. In 2008, a national vanilla organization (Vanilla Foundation) was created to support small vanilla farmers. Currently, there are nearly 20 hectares of vanilla among the small farmers, about 20 hectares under shade cloth, and about 10 hectares for tourism purposes located in buffer zones of national parks, biological reserves, and private forest areas.

Currently, the author is in charge of 16 hectares of vanilla planted under shade cloth at Las Dos Mamos Vanilla Limitada in the northern part of Costa Rica, close to Nicaragua. Most of the population around the farm is unemployed. The only source of employment for many families is the vanilla company. This is why we struggle to be profitable, reduce costs, and use environmentally friendly organic cultural practices. Soon we will obtain organic certification for our plantation. History has taught us that vanilla plants require organic matter in the soil and good agricultural practices to thrive. When these are provided, the vanilla plant will produce long, heavy, and aromatic vanilla beans (Figure 3.1).

Fig. 3.1 Vanilla beans.

3.3 VANILLA PRODUCTION - THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM

There are two types of production in Costa Rica; an intensive vanilla cultivation under net houses and the traditional method in open fields using live trees as tutors (Figure 3.2).

Fig. 3.2 Traditional vanilla plantation.

The traditional system is used by farmers in small-scale cultivation, normally from 0.5 to 2 hectares. The supporting live tutors used are the Erythrina spp., guaba, or melina trees. Often, these trees are deciduous and loose their leaves in the dry season when the vanilla plant needs more shade. If the vanilla plant is exposed to direct sunlight, their leaves are burned. Research shows that a later pruning of the tree makes it produce new leaves near to the summer time. These young leaves will not drop as would happen with mature leaves and the vanilla plant can get 50% shade in the dry season. The pruning strategy is to open the live tutor and get as many branches as possible. In September, the first apical meristem is cut, and within a month two branches will have formed. Each branch is cut again and so on until a tree shaped like an umbrella is formed. In addition, the pruned material is used as organic fertilizer for the vanilla plants. In Cost Rica, the orange tree is not used as a vanilla tutor as in Mexico, although there are orange plantations around the vanilla production zones.