Victor Can Gutierrez, the delegate of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, Forestry and Fisheries (Sedafop) in the area of Chontalpa, said that Tabasco was the third largest producer of pineapples in Mexico with 1,400 established hectares, 403 of which correspond to the MD2, 600 to the cayena lisa variety, and 397 hectares to the cabezona variety. He also said that pineapple crops, which - thanks to the support of the state government- have been on the rise since 2013, contributed to the revival of the state's economy.
Can Gutierrez said the local authorities had supported pineapple producers with seedbeds, padding and mesh shade; which had allowed producers to improve their fruits and become more profitable.
He also said that, between 2013 and 2015, the government invested 3,967,500 pesos to acquire 2 million 64,000 saplings of vegetative material of the MD2 pineapple variety for the conversion of 59 hectares in Huimanguillo.
He said that this agricultural activity had directly benefited 50 families in the area of Chontalpa, and that the activity had become an important generator of employment, especially when the crop needs to be harvested.
According to Can Gutierrez, the state government plans to boost the pineapple sector. The government has 1,012,500 pesos allocated for this activity in the current year.
He said they would buy 675,000 saplings of MD2 pineapple for the reconversion of 27 hectares; and that they would invest 1,350,000 pesos in shading meshes and plastic mulch for 40 hectares.
Source: diariopresente.com.mx