Tucuman has already harvested nearly 80% of its lemons for export, and so far the quality and health of the fruit that is arriving at the international markets is very good. To achieve this, producers have taken thorough care of their plantations and the Senasa conducts controls that are giving good results, said the coordinator of the Senasa's regional Plant Health in South NOA , Rafael Rodriguez Prados.
So far this year, inspectors have worked much more hours than what they had worked by the same time last year, mainly because they are checking that the fruit headed to the ports has the best possible health, he said.
In general, "interdictions in packaging plants and at the ports have increased, so as to prevent these detections from taking place in the target markets. The truth is that we must continue exerting this pressure so that the fruit being sent to the international markets is excellent," he added.
"By August 17 total exports of citrus fruit to international markets had amounted to some 305,403 tons, 206,244 of which were sent to the European Union (EU), and the rest to other countries. 77.3% of the citrus exported, (i.e. 236,657 tons) were of lemon.
Data
Argentina has about 132,000 hectares of citrus. Tucuman's lemon production is very important; it is the country's leading producer of lemon because of its export capacity, despite the country's irrelevant internal consumption. 25% of the production is exported and 70% is industrialized. The main destinations are the European Union, Russia, and Canada. The United States is in the process of opening its market.
"We have 10 million citrus plants spread over 38,000 hectares. We have fruits planted from Burruyacu and Tafi Viejo, in the central departments, and up to Cocha. So we have citrus in an area of nearly 140 km by 50 km wide," said Grignola while stressing the importance of the production for the local economy.
"Argentina has more than 112 industrial plants and more than 400 packaging plants. Tucuman has 36 packaging plants, whose main activity is preparing fruits for export," the official said, adding that citrus production was very important for the province. "Not only because of the income it produces, but also because of the amount of labor it creates: in the harvest, the nurseries, the packaging facilities, and the industry to prepare the fruit for export. That's why it's important that we all take care of this production," he said.
Source: portalagropecuario.com.ar