VisionSpring’s Post

Did you know that the vanilla industry owes much of its success to the ingenuity of a 12-year old boy from the 1800s? Despite being born into slavery and denied an education, Edmond Albius developed a revolutionary hand-pollination technique that transformed the global vanilla trade. Without this process, only 1% of vanilla orchids would manage to naturally self-pollinate. Hand-pollination is no easy task. It requires focus, steady hands, and most of all, clear vision. Workers have to manually place a grain of pollen on the flower's stigma, which is only a few millimetres in size. Kabugho Sabina from Kasese, Uganda, and thousands of vanilla farmers like her are still using the Albius technique today. And it's thanks to Kabugho's reading glasses that she's able to continue growing vanilla as her vision deteriorates with age. But it's not about the eyeglasses. It's about what comes after. With clear vision, Kabugho has increased her productivity and earning potential, and will be able to continue to work independently for the foreseeable future. If you are not already part of our journey to share the wonder of clear vision with farmers like Kabugho, please consider supporting or partnering with VisionSpring. Your support will help our Livelihoods in Focus initiative on its path to correcting the vision of 8 million agricultural workers and artisans in South Asia and Africa, unlocking more than $1 billion in income earning potential. Join us! #Eye #Health #Productivity #Income