Farmers from the Ocobamba district, located within the province of La Convencion (Cuzco), are betting on pineapple cultivation, said the town's mayor, Alex Curi León, under the I Productive Mayor National Award event, organized by Export Sierra last Friday.
In this regard, the authority said that Ocobamba has a favourable climate for the proper growth of the crop. In addition, although they currently don't have the capacity to export, he said the pineapple was a fruit demanded by the international market.
"We are betting on the Golden, Samba and Caribbean pineapple varieties because we are in an area that is suitable for their growth. Thanks to this we are catering to the domestic markets of Cuzco and Quillabamba, among others. Other countries such as Brazil and Europe also order pineapples. Exporting is another component, but we are still in training. Our production capacity is still very small," he said.
"Currently we have 150 beneficiaries and produce in 200 hectares. Our goal is to cultivate in 1,500 acres in of our beneficiaries' productive plots," said the mayor.
"We are preparing a phytosanitary project for the pineapple, to control pests and diseases. It is important to do this because we need to ensure the sustainability of our plantations and the plants' health," said the mayor.
Source: Agraria.pe