Disease chokes cloves' supply line, prices inflate

(thehindubusinessline.com) A sharp fall in Indonesian cloves output due to an unknown disease has aggravated the supply situation, skyrocketing prices in Indian and international markets.
The disease has reportedly destroyed trees in the major growing areas of Manado and Java — which contribute 80 per cent of cloves' production in the major producing country.
As the gestation period for cloves is five to seven years to bear fruit, Indonesia is likely to have small crop for the next few years. As a result, the local cigar companies will have to buy cloves from other origins. Continued

Photo: Zanzibar. Bags of cloves for exportation, 1936 (Library of Congress).