The possibility of producing over 2.7 million tonnes of citrus is consolidating the its place as the most produced fruit, followed by topfruit. 65.38% of the production comes from -Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca, while the rest comes from Corrientes and Misiones, as well as Entre Rios and Buenos Aires, according to the article published by INTA Informa.
The INTA, through the National Fruit Program, is carrying out research in breeding and working on site with producers in order to spread the best practices and ensure quality and the efficiency of the citrus cultivation systems.
Productive diversification
According to the article published by INTA INFORMA, more than half of Argentina's production of oranges and mandarins is consumed in the domestic market as fresh fruit, while the rest is either processed or exported for fresh consumption overseas. From a technical standpoint, this represents an opportunity to generate raw material specialised for industrial use.
The institute supports the development of the entire chain. It works "from the production of germplasm, seeds for nurseries and plant-generating buds to management, health or marketing issues," explained Guillermo Meier, director of INTA Concordia.
The specialist assured that the strengthening of the activity is based on "two pillars: sustainable production and constant search for new markets, with the consequent improvement of the already existing ones, bringing the productive sector together with the consumer."
Furthermore, the adoption of the best practices makes it possible to produce higher quality citrus fruit while doubling the systems' yields.
The province ofTucuman accounts for 90% of the country's lemons, and thanks to this volume,Argentina is the world's largest producer and the second largest exporter offresh fruit. Since 1970, the INTA Famaillá -Tucumán has developed improvedcitrus varieties and designed techniques that facilitate the detection andcontrol of diseases which can have an impact on the plantations and thepost-harvest process.
Source: caa.nearural.com
