In the coming weeks, the Ministry of Production through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock will present the Pistachio Program, a plan that includes a line of credit at the lowest rate in the market, to increase the hectares planted with this nut.
"It was managed before the Nation and a $ 2 million fund that will go to credits for producers who expand their plantations, or want to start with pistachio was obtained," said Ariel Lucero, head of the area. Details of the plan and the line in particular are expected to be disseminated within a few days.
The official stressed that San Juan is at the head of producing provinces for its climate, and ideal soil for this production. "The pistachio needs a certain amount of cold hours and here it has them. That is why many of the deferrals that expanded the olive tree in frost areas on May 25, are turning to pistachio," he explained.
In April of this year, the Secretariat carried out a survey of San Juan nuts that resulted in that there are 775 hectares of pistachio, of which 150 were planted by a California company in the 25 de Mayo department, which has its own nursery in Ullum.
The total of hectares with pistachio is distributed between 51 properties.
Lucero explained that the international demand for pistachio is so great that the relationship with the offer is 8 to 1. "The demand is so important that even by doubling what we have today, we would not move the international needle. That's why international prices are very good. Today a kilo of pistachio is at 10 or 11 dollars, and the cost of production is located at 1.5 dollars per kilo. In San Juan, one hectare yields 4,000 kilos," he said.
Australia, California and San Juan are ideal for growing the pistachio because of its climate and yields. That's why, when production declined in California due to weather and water shortages, companies began to look at other regions, and one of them settled in San Juan where it invested millions.
The truth is that the province is expected to reach the end of 2018 with double the amount of hectares.
Source: tiempodesanjuan.com