According to the CEO of the Peruvian Association of Producers and Exporters of Mangoes (EMPA), Juan Carlos Rivera Ortega, Peru will not be able to either produce or export big caliber mangoes to the United States in the 2016/17 campaign.
Rivera Ortega said the country wouldn't be able to produce these mangoes because of the shortage of water caused by the lack of rains on the northern coast of Peru, which caused an advance in the fruits' ripening and prevented them from obtaining large sizes.
"Water is an important element throughout the phenological development of the fruit, especially in the fruit's caliber. Since many plots were not irrigated or received few irrigations, the fruit's maturity was accelerated and producers achieved a greater number of smaller calibers (14, 12, 10) in the three mango producing areas of the country (Piura, Lambayeque, and Ancash)," he said.
According to Informango, APEM's weekly news, estimates are that 5% of all the mango production in Piura will be of a 7 caliber, 10% of an 8 caliber, 15% of a 9 caliber, 35% of a 10 caliber, and the remaining 35% of a 12 caliber.
The picture in Lambayeque is very similar, 5% of the region's total mango production reach a 7 caliber, 25% will obtain an 8 caliber, 30% a 9 caliber, 25% a 10 caliber, and 15% a 12 caliber.
Ancash presents a similar situation, even though the province of Casma (an area that produces mango) has had a lower scarcity of water. According to estimates, 5% of the total mango production will be of the 7 caliber, 20% of the 8 caliber, 30% of the 9 caliber, 35% of the 10 gauge, and 10% of the 12 caliber.
Source: agraria.pe