Santander and Norte de Santander have the largest area devoted to producing pineapples in Colombia, with 12,027 hectares, i.e. 47% of the national production. The departments of Meta, Arauca, and Casanare have 5,760 hectares, which yield 31.5 tons per hectare.
The Minister of Agriculture, Juan Guillermo Zuluaga Cardona, confirmed that the pineapple was having a good moment, and stated that, according to projections, in 2018 the country would produce around 950 thousand tons of pineapples. He also said that they had recently achieved opening the Argentine market to the Colombian fruit.
The official said that the good results of the pineapple chain would improve the quality of life of thousands of peasant families who grow the fruit. The agricultural portfolio expects the pineapple sector to generate about 30 thousand jobs this year.
According to Zuluaga Cardona, 49% of the production is consumed fresh, 2% is exported and the remaining 49% is used by the national industry for the production of sweets, jams, dressings, syrups, etc.
A good opportunity for this fruit is aiming at the internal market; Colombians currently consume 1.3 kilograms per person per month, while per capita consumption in the United States stands at 2.2 kg.
According to Ministry of Agriculture, thanks to the policies of the government of Juan Manuel Santos, the planted area increased by 32% between 2014 and 2017, while yields increased by 3%, thanks to the use of certified seeds."
In 2017, pineapple exports amounted to more than US $10 million, i.e. 8.11% more than in 2016. "We export our pineapple by sea to different countries, such as Chile, the Netherlands, and the United States; by air, to France and Italy. Now we'll also make exports to the Argentine market, which has already authorized its admissibility.
During the Santos government, pineapple exports amounted to US $ 31.1 million, i.e. 702.5% more than in the previous government (2002-2009), where pineapple exports amounted to a total of US $3.8 million.
Source: radiosantafe.com