Clove cultivation plays a crucial role in Comoros’ economy. The weather, rich soil, everything is perfect for clove cultivation in this country. Thanks to these perfect conditions for farming, Comoros grows high quality cloves. Cloves are one of the main export products of Comoros. These cloves are used in food, perfumes and various traditional medicines. These uses make cloves essential in the global market. Thanks to the demand of organic and natural spices growing, Comoros is becoming a very important part of global clove trade.

This article examines the current state and potential of clove farming in Comoros along with opportunities for sustainable growth and investment in the clove industry. 

Comoros’ economy depends highly on clove cultivation. Comoros produced around 7278 tons of cloves in the year 2022. This shows a steady increase over recent years. 

Cloves are the top export product of Comoros. Comoros exported nearly $31.4 Million worth of cloves in the year 2022. This made Comoros the fifth largest clove exporter in the world.

Comoros has been increasing the farming area of cloves by a big margin. Nearly 38,000 hectares were used in clove farming. This amount was already an increase compared to last year.

Comoros faces competition from many other clove producing countries like  Indonesia, Madagascar and Tanzania. But their focus on farming the high quality cloves, help them maintain their strong position in the global clove market.

Clove farming is very important for Comoros. It gives many people jobs and brings money to the country. Farmers are using better methods to grow and sell more cloves. This helps clove farming stay strong and supports the country’s growth.

Farmers mainly use old methods to gather cloves. Most of them work on small family farms and depend on simple tools for harvesting. Clove trees need special attention and care to grow well. Farmers usually pick the clove buds by hand, and this takes a lot of time and effort. Once the farmers finish harvesting, the clove buds are dried under the sun to keep their quality intact.

However, clove farmers face a lot of challenges. The biggest challenge is the unpredictable weather. The weather does not always stay perfect for clove farming. This causes a significant reduction in the harvest. Another big problem is the lack of modern tools and technology. This makes it harder to increase the production of cloves.

Some of the main issues farmers face include:

• Unpredictable weather that affects harvest time and crop health

• Lack of modern tools for faster and easier harvesting

• Low prices in the market that reduce farmer income

These challenges are making it harder for clove farmers to grow more and earn better.

Cloves are one of the most important export products of Comoros. Cloves bring in a lot of money every year. In the year 2022, Comoros exported over two thousand tons of cloves. This generates over millions in revenue. Most of the cloves are sold to countries in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Farmers in Comoros depend on clove farming for their income, as it provides steady jobs for local communities.

The global demand for cloves is rising. In 2023, Comoros exported $65.6 million worth of cloves, making it the third-largest clove exporter globally. ​ This makes cloves a reliable source of foreign currency for Comoros. In rural areas, this sector supports many families by creating jobs and funding community projects. Cloves are used in making the food tastier, in perfumes and in traditional medicines. This makes clove a safe and dependable product to sell. The demand grows and the benefit of farmers and traders grows along with it.

Clove farming can also help Comoros in various different ways. When farmers sell cloves, they bring in a lot of foreign currency. The government of Comoros can use these to pay for things like schools, healthcare, and roads. 

If the government or the investors can provide better support to the farmers, the production of cloves can increase by a great margin. Providing better support means providing better tools and teaching them new and efficient ways to farm cloves. With the right help and steps, Comoros could sell even more cloves helping its economy grow stronger!

Clove farming in Comoros is gradually shifting toward sustainable practices. Farmers are learning techniques that protect the soil and environment while ensuring better harvests.

Some of the sustainable farming methods used include:

• Crop interplanting (also called mixed cropping): Farmers plant other crops alongside clove trees to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests. This method also gives extra income to families.

• Use of organic fertilizers: Instead of chemical options, many now use natural fertilizers that are safe for the environment and help keep clove trees strong and healthy.

• Forest preservation: Some farmers are protecting natural forests near their farms to support wildlife conservation and create a balanced ecosystem.

NGOs and cooperatives are helping farmers adopt these methods. They provide training, tools, and ongoing support to make farming more eco-friendly and efficient.By focusing on sustainable farming, Comoros is ensuring the long-term success of its clove industry while protecting nature.

• Improving Farming Techniques

Investing in modern farming tools, fertilizers, and irrigation systems can increase the production of cloves. Investing in these sectors can also improve the quality of the cloves. Modern tools can help the farmers grow more cloves in less time.

• Value-Added Processing

Setting up local processing plants to process the cloves can add value before export. This process increases profits.

• Sustainable Farming Initiatives

Investing in organic farming is a good sector for investing. Sustainable farming is in high demand because people want eco-friendly products.

• Export and Logistics Support

Investors can invest in transportation and storage facilities. Good transportation and storage systems can reduce the amount of losses after harvesting. Without good transportation and storage systems, the clove industry can face some serious losses. Efficient logistics can ensure cloves reach the buyers faster while maintaining the quality.

• Local Communities

Investors can focus on providing training, resources, and fair pricing to clove farmers. This strengthens the supply chain. 

Thanks to the investments and collaborations, clove farming in Comoros has seen great progress. The partnership between local cooperatives and European fair-trade organisations provided funds to improve the harvesting and drying tools. As a result farmers were able to grow cloves of higher quality. This led to an increase of 30% in export revenues. 

In Anjouan, an international development fund invested in training programs for the farmers. These programs taught farmers about modern farming techniques and sustainable practices. Within three years the region increased the production of clove by a great margin. This allowed the farmers to directly sell the cloves overseas.

An investor-supported project in Mohéli built storage systems owned by the community.  These systems reduced the losses by 15% and helped the farmers decide the best time to sell their cloves to ensure more profit.

Clove farming is a big part of life in Comoros. It helps many families, creates jobs, and brings money into the country. The hard work of farmers, along with the country’s good weather and rich soil, has made Comoros a strong name in the world clove market.

Even though farmers still face many problems like bad weather, low prices, and old tools, they are still moving forward. With more help from the government, local groups, and outside investors, these problems can slowly get better. Better tools, fair prices, and simple training can bring very big results for small farmers.

Many farmers are also learning how to grow cloves in a way that protects nature. These steps help keep the land healthy and make the farming future safe for the next generation.

If Comoros keeps going in this direction, the clove industry can grow even more. It can bring in more foreign money, create new jobs, and help the country build a stronger future. With the right support, clove farming could become one of Comoros’ biggest success stories.

1.Why is clove cultivation important in Comoros?

Clove cultivation is crucial for Comoros’ economy as it provides jobs to the local community and it generates significant export revenue. 

2.What is the procedure for investing in clove farming in Comoros?

To invest in clove farming in Comoros these are important,

• Research
• Partner with local cooperatives
• Invest in infrastructure
• Focus in sustainable farming
• Engage with government and NGOs

3.What are the benefits of investing in the clove industry of Comoros?

• Growing demand: The global demand for cloves is rising which is ensuring a steady market.
• High return:  Cloves are a very profitable export product. High quality cloves like the ones Comoros grows, can ensure a big amount of profit in return. 

3.What challenges do clove farmers face in Comoros?

Farmers face some challenges like unpredictable weather and back-dated tools and techniques.These affect the production of the cloves.