On 7 March 2017, a category four cyclone struck Madagascar. Cyclone Enawo was one of the strongest cyclones to hit the island in the last 13 years. The impact of the storm on the people and infrastructure of Madagascar is quite clear.
While we cannot deny that the impact of such cyclone is significant humanly and materially speaking, it is too early to make official statements on how this climatic event has affected the vanilla crops.
Compared with the previous cyclones, Hudah and Gafilo, it seems that vanilla plots have been less impacted, even though cities like Antalaha have suffered extensive damages. It is equally important to support local communities through this hardship, as it is important not to flare up the market with making assumptions, in order to avoid unjustified speculation on prices, which would go against the sustainability of the Malagasy vanilla. A full assessment is in progress.
PROVA will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide you with regular updates as it learns more.
PROVA is currently concentrating its efforts on assisting farmers in the seven villages where its vanilla program is located. On a larger scale, PROVA continues to work in partnership with other local organisations to support communities.
In the light of this event, PROVA wishes to reinsure its customers that we are doing our utmost to guarantee a minimal impact on its whole supply chain, from the farmers up to the finished product.
