Agroindustrias Casablanca, part of the La Calera group, has devoted approximately a decade to replanting more than 1,200 hectares of mandarins. This ambitious project sought to adjust planting densities to allow the complete mechanization of agricultural work, to reduce labor costs, and to achieve a more efficient application of treatments in each season.
Carlos Coloma, general manager of Agroindustrias Casablanca, highlighted the importance of economic efficiency in agricultural production today. He stressed the need to keep costs under control and maximize revenues, especially through exports. Efficient management is no longer limited to production per se but encompasses all aspects of the business, he stated.
1,250 hectares are devoted to citrus fruits, mainly in Chincha (90%) and Pisco (10%). Most of them are used to grow a dozen varieties of mandarins. However, producers are also testing the Sutil lemon because of the demand in certain markets with Latino populations.
Coloma evaluates mandarin varieties based on their economic viability. He expects the Satsuma will disappear from the Peruvian fields and become part of an export niche but highlights the good prices it has obtained in the domestic market due to the lower supply of fruit.
This campaign's production has been lower than expected partly because of high temperatures. According to estimates, the production of Satsumas will decrease by 30% to 35% and that of Primosols by 20% to 25%. Despite this, the yields of the mid-season varieties are good, especially the W. Murcott variety.
An additional challenge in this campaign has been the heat, which has led to the appearance of diseases such as Cladosporium and greasy spot. The true result of the season will be determined in the coming weeks, with the beginning of the harvest of the W. Murcott, Tango, and Orri varieties.
Source: redagricola.com