The Association of Young Agricultural Producers (Asaja) has demanded a medium-term strategy to consolidate the success of Spanish avocados in the European market, as in spite of their good reception, they only account for around 10 percent of the continent's total consumption.
Benjamín Faulí, fruit and vegetable technician at Asaja in Malaga, explained in a statement that Spanish avocados need to gain ground in the European market, as the steady increase in both the demand in the European Union and the supply from third countries "is resulting in us becoming increasingly less relevant."
Therefore, he has demanded guarantees in the water supply, the improvement of the farms "in terms of quantity, quality and diversification," and an overall reorganization of the sector.
Faulí reported that avocado consumption in Europe in 2016 exceeded 400,000 tonnes; fifteen percent more than in the previous year.
This year, we expect more consumption and an increase in exports from the European market's main suppliers, which are Peru and Chile.
According to the technician, sales of Spanish avocados in Europe will increase this year, by about 50,000 tonnes, but that increase is not significant in the face of the rise in European demand and the position that other countries are achieving. Colombia, for example, exported 1,180 tonnes to the EU in 2014, and in 2016 this volume reached 17,000 tonnes; "a very significant upward trend."
The technician has also warned that the dam of La Viñuela, which supplies water for the avocado crops in the Axarquia region (the main producer of this subtropical fruit in Spain), is only at 40 percent of its capacity, with 65.8 hectometres, when last year at this time it had 79.5 hectometres.
According to Asaja, if we do not take action to increase the production and ensure a sufficient water supply, the Spanish avocado sector "will eventually not be a decisive actor in the decisions to be taken in the future at a global level."
"It is time to make strategic decisions while the situation is perhaps the best possible, and prepare for the difficulties that we'll have to face sooner or later," concluded Faulí.
Source: EFE
