In four years, Peru will have 20,000 hectares devoted to growing avocados and avocados Hass, double the number that exist today, said CEO from Cerro Prieto Agricultural, Augusto Cillóniz Benavidez.
The company is one of the leading exporters of fruit. It currently has 1,000 hectares planted with avocado Hass, half of which are in production and the rest in growth.
According to the manager, the increase would allow Peru to surpass Chile's volumes, where the production of avocado Hass is about 190 thousand tons; but not to exceed them in seeded areas of which there are 33,974 hectares within the neighbouring country.
He noted that Peru has a great capacity for growth in the avocado sector and that investments are being made in the coast and the mountains to sow it.
He estimated that in 2013, Peru would export 100,000 tons of avocado, which would mean a 16.6% increase over last year, when 83,477 MT were shipped. In sales, they would exceed $100 million.
He stressed that it will be a fantastic campaign for Agricultural Cerro Prieto because they have managed to harvest one month prior to the traditional season, which begins in two weeks. This year they plan to export 7,000 tonnes while last year they shipped 1,400 tons. "The plants are already in a ripe age so they produce more," he said.
Source: Agraria.pe
