Bangalore to host expo on vanilla

Vanilla India 2004, a national seminar and exhibition on vanilla, would be held on February 13 and 14 at the J N Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science campus, Bangalore.

Targeted at agriculturists, cultivators, importers, exporters, processors and extractors, trading houses, students, government departments and non-government organisations, among others, the seminar will also have sessions in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.

There would be sessions on vanilla cultivation in India, the global scenario, production and demand, cultivation aspects and upkeep of the plant, pollination, diseases and pest control, organic cultivation, processing and curing, packing and storing, marketing and economics of vanilla cultivation.

The event is being organised by Unique Expositions Pvt Ltd (UEPL) and supported by the Spices Board and the department of horticulture, government of Karnataka.

Today vanilla is the second most expensive spice after saffron, a UEPL spokesperson said.

As it is a money spinner, it is also called 'Green Gold' and 'Prince of Spices', the spokesperson said.

The current world demand for vanilla is almost seven times more than its world production, he said.