Mexico: Strong guava and citrus production figures

Supported by data from the Agri-Food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP), Sagarpa said that 255,461 tonnes of guava have been obtained, with the state of Michoacán being the largest producer, providing around half of the national production.

It is followed by Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and Mexico State. These four states are responsible for 97% of the country's production.

During 2011, this fruit was grown in a total acreage of 21,761 hectares, from which a production of 290,659 tonnes was obtained valued at approximately 190 million Pesos. Mexico is the world's third largest guava producer, after India and Pakistan and above Brazil and Cuba.

Enrique Martínez y Martínez, Sagarpa's head, highlighted that 9,200 guava growers are registered and 96.7% of them are from the states of Michoacán, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and Mexico State.

The guava is considered one of the 20 most important fruits produced in the country, generating more than four million jobs in the production process alone.

Regarding citrus, SIAP reported that Mexico is the world's fifth largest producer. One out of twenty tonnes consumed in the world are Mexican. With an average production of 4.1 million tonnes of oranges, 1.9 million tonnes of lemons and 401 thousand of grapefruit, Mexico stands as the fifth, second and third largest producer in each of these crops respectively.

By November 2012, 3,156,948 tonnes of oranges have been produced in 27 states. The most relevant ones are: Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Puebla, Nuevo León and Sonora.

Regarding lemons, the harvest is expected to reach 1,858,551 tonnes in 27 states, with the main ones being Veracruz, Michoacán, Colima, Oaxaca, Yucatan and Tabasco.

Meanwhile, grapefruits are produced by 19 states and in 2012 the harvest reached 322,166 tonnes. The main producers were Veracruz, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Sonora and Tamaulipas.

Source: EL UNIVERSAL