In 2015, Peru planted 15,182 hectares of pineapples (in 2014 the country planted 15,917 hectares). The region with the highest area devoted to this fruit is Junin, which accounts for 41% of the total planted, followed by Loreto with 13%, and La Libertad with 7%, among others.
This was reported by Alberto Julca Otiniano, the head professor of the National Agrarian University La Molina, who added that, in terms of volume of production, Junin accounted for 75% of the national supply. It is followed by La Libertad with 5%, Puno with 4%, Loreto with 3.5%, and other places.
"Junin has a very important share because of the high yield it achieves, i.e. 53,328 kilos per hectare. Meanwhile Puno produces 25,803 kilos per hectare and La Libertad produces 21,131 kilos per hectare," he said.
The specialist said that pineapple production yields had increased significantly thanks to the technology used in the crops and that, previously, yields in the central forest were relatively low.
Alberto Julca also stated that the Hawaiian, Smooth Cayenne, Samba (which has the largest planted area) and Golden were the most commercial pineapple varieties. The latter has generated greater interest in recent years.
In this regard, he said that both small producers and companies were planting the Golden variety (which is also known as MD-2) because of its high quality, high yields, resistance to pests and diseases, and long shelf life. "It is the world's most important fresh pineapple variety and it is exported to the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East."
Pineapple is managed as a traditional crop
He also stated that most of the 15,182 hectares of pineapple installed in 2015 were managed as traditional crops, as farmers planted the fruit with the onset of rains, in completely degraded soils (where they had previously planted coffee and then kión).
"Producers use low planting densities of local varieties, such as Samba. That is to say, they plant 15,000 to 17,000 plants per hectare, while Cayenne Lisa is at 45,000 plants per hectare and Golden at 48,000 plants per hectare," he said.
In addition, he said, the farmers do not fertilize them or conduct pest controls because they consider the plants are very rustic; they do not conduct induction treatments, which are very important because they help ensure the commercial success of the crop (as it helps schedule the harvest), and they have no market knowledge.
Source: agraria.pe