Boise State University

12/13/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/13/2024 15:04

Castellano studies militant efforts to protect vanilla farms in Madagascar

School of Public Service Associate Clinical Professor Isaac Castellano recently traveled to the Sava region of Madagascar to interview vanilla farmers who participate in local militias, whose name, when translated from Malagasy is 'reliable eyes'. These citizen militias have grown in number since the price of vanilla skyrocketed during the 2016 growing season.

Madagascar produces around 80% of the global supply of vanilla, and thieves regularly cut unripe vanilla pods from the vine, both depriving farmers of their livelihoods and diluting the quality of the overall supply. The central government's efforts to reduce theft have largely failed to stem the threat, leaving farmers on their own to protect their fields.

In addition to organizing militias that patrol fields, enact curfews and, in some cases, hand out justice themselves, farmers also sleep in their fields from February to July, set traps to snarl potential thieves and carry weapons. These 'reliable eyes' groups have age limits to join, mandatory retirement and training programs, with very little government assistance.

Castellano at the Sambava airport, Madagascar

Castellano argues that such non-actor securitization, as illustrated by the reliable eyes, will continue to grow as climate change destabilizes commodity markets and national governments struggle to respond adequately. He is preparing an article for submission that will further explore this dynamic.