As a result of the lack of rain in the Andes, the two main reservoirs of Piura, Poechos and San Lorenzo, have less than 30% of water, which is causing some concern to mango producers.
The president of the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers and Exporters (APEM), Cesar Morocho, said that, prior to the harvests, producers irrigate the mango crops once or twice to optimize their maturation, as mango is a climacteric fruit. "Brix is soluble in water, therefore, when they irrigate the plant, Brix spreads preventing the fruit from ripening quickly. If these crops are not irrigated, the producers will send fruit that will ripen quickly at the destination. In addition, we'll lose a little size, as the irrigation also helps the fruits increase their size a bit," he said. Producers who do not have technical irrigation are the least likely to meet their pre-harvest irrigation goals, he added.
In addition to the lack of water, Piura is experiencing temperatures of up to 35 degrees, which could also accelerate the maturation process, he stated.
On a commercial level, having more ripe fruit can also advance shipments and move the export peaks that usually take place in the first weeks of January, Morocho stated. "Having to ship the fruit quickly could saturate certain markets."
"I'm still optimistic about the future because there's got to be an end to this run of bad luck. There are no boats, there is no fertilizer. I want to be optimistic,” he stated.
Source: agraria.pe