The steadfast commitment of organic vanilla farmers in Sajang Village, Sembalun Subdistrict, East Lombok, in upholding the quality of their produce has led to an improvement in the well-being of farmers and a thriving local economy. Vanilla has been a cornerstone commodity of Sajang Village for decades. The fertile land on the slopes of Mount Rinjani makes vanilla cultivation effortless in this region. Organic vanilla from Sajang Village has long been sought after by foreign buyers. The price of organic vanilla is favorable, thus, it has great potential for continuous development. The key to successful vanilla cultivation lies in careful maintenance, selective pruning, and avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers.
 
Since 2002 up to the present, Sajang's organic vanilla has been exported to the United States through UD. Organic Spice Lombok, which acts as the off-taker. Every year, 6 tons of dried Sajang vanilla are exported to Europe. Prior to export, farmers sell fresh vanilla to UD. Organic Spice Lombok for prices ranging from IDR 115,000 to IDR 145,000. The farmers' selling price is determined by global market prices and the quality of the vanilla. Farmers in Sajang have also embraced greenhouse cultivation for vanilla which introduction was facilitated by the support of the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Office of Bank Indonesia through the demonstration plot program. Vanilla cultivated in greenhouses is of higher quality and yields compared to conventionally grown vanilla. Currently, the focus of vanilla exports is the United States due to high demand, which far exceeds the current export volume. The success of organic vanilla exports hinges on farmers' consistent commitment to quality. If they remain disciplined and continue learning, organic farming in Sajang will continue to thrive. Organic Vanilla Sajang has been a part of the Bank Indonesia West Nusa Tenggara program since 2020, promoting leading commodities in West Nusa Tenggara for export. This initiative aims to ensure that West Nusa Tenggara's economy is not solely reliant on mineral exports.

Source: https://m.bisnis.com/amp/read/20230814/537/1684530/vanili-organik-hidupkan-ekonomi-desa-sajang