Durango is betting on the cultivation of asparagus, an experimental crop for this entity that, if successful, could be an alternative for hundreds or thousands of hectares. As a start, 130 hectares of this crop will be grown this year in eight municipalities.
Francisco Gamboa Barron, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development of the State (SAGADR) recognized that they needed a strong investment to introduce this crop because the asparagus plant wasn't cheap, and because they also needed adequate infrastructure, such as a packing plant, for every 200 hectares planted. Thus, among the total support of $58 million pesos obtained so far by producers, the State Government will support producers with the construction of a packing plant that will cost $15.72 million pesos (US $1 million).
The $1 million dollar investment will be used to create a warehouse, office, cold rooms, washing center, processing center, packing center, and boarding areas. The plant will be located in La Parrilla, in the municipality of Nombre de Dios, and it will assist the production and packaging of the States of Durango, Zacatecas and Aguascalientes. The plant is also expected to generate between 500 and 600 jobs, as well as 240 more in production fields.
Production cost is high
However, the cost of production per hectare is also high, as it amounts to nearly $123,000 pesos. Therefore, producers will be grated a $100,000 pesos credit per hectare. The producers and the State will supply the remaining 23,000 pesos in equal shares.
However, there is a company that guarantees it will pay $150,000 pesos for a hectare's production, so producers are expected to gain $30,000 per hectare.
The municipalities participating in this planting are Nuevo Ideal, Canatlan, Durango, Nombre de Dios, Vicente Guerrero, Suchil, Poanas and Guadalupe Victoria.
Source: elsiglodetorreon.com.mx