Mario Orellana Ramirez, assistant manager of Investment Promotion of the Regional Government of Piura, reported that the cultivated area of table grape in the region of Piura increased by 150%, from 2,000 hectares that existed in 2013 to 5,000 hectares this year.
Orellana Ramirez stressed that this rapid increase in area, mainly of the Red globe variety, was due to the arrival of major agricultural exporting companies to the region, such as Ecoacuícola, which already has 2,500 hectares.
"Private investment brings new technology, such as modern irrigation. A lot of desert areas have been transformed into green carpets where grapes are cultivated," said the official.
In this regard, he explained that the Piura could possibly become the largest producer of table grapes nationwide, including beating Ica, by next year's campaign (October-December 2015).
He also noted that the average grape yield in the region was of 30,000 kilos per hectare and that they exported all of that production. The region's main markets are the United States, China, Canada, the Netherlands and England.
Source: Agraria.pe