According to the projections of entrepreneurs, Honduras will export between 15 and 15.5 million boxes of melons worth more than $65 million dollars in the 2015-2016 harvest, which started recently.
Honduras exports its melons to more than 36 countries, especially in the European market.
According to the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), the country exported 13.8 million boxes of melons in the 2014-2015 campaign, 15.3 million boxes less than what was recorded during the 2013-2014 production cycle.
The drop in volume shipped during the last season was due to a viral disease caused by the lack of rains that affected crops nationwide and that decreased production yields, which went from 1000 to 800 cases per acre.
Expectations
The challenge for melon crops in the first cycle of the 2015-2016 campaign is to surpass the results of the previous season. Producers have high expectations because of the rains in recent days in Choluteca and Valle departments, which concentrates most of the area planted with melons.
According to the BCH, Honduras exports cantaloupe, honeydew, Gaul, and piel de sapo melon varieties the most.
The melon is one of Honduras' main agricultural export products.
Source: laprensa.hn