The general directory of Border Development initiated a series of conferences with associations of agricultural producers in the province of Monte Cristi, in order to teach them about the cultivation of pitahaya or dragon fruit, as the planting of this category is favorable for fertile soils and dry lands. Thus, this production could be successful in the communities of the border area.
The first training workshop was conducted with the coordination of the National Council of Agricultural and Forestry Research (CONIAF) and the Pitahaya Cluster. In it, the CEO of the Pitahaya Cluster, engineer Silverio Rafael Chavez, told participants of the benefits of growing this fruit, as well as how much the European and American markets demanded it.
"In the last 15 years production of dragon fruit has increased in Central and South America. These places export the fruit to the United States, Japan and Canada. Europe and the United States are currently demanding 60 containers of pitahayas per month, and we are well below that figure, so we have a whole market waiting for our product," said Silverio Chavez.
The pitahaya or dragon fruit, as it is also known, is an ovoid fruit that measures between 90 millimeters and 12 centimeters long, with a 65-80 mm diameter, depending on the variety. Its pulp is full of seeds, it is aromatic and has a fine, delicate, and exquisite taste, like sugared water.
Source: hoy.com.do