The good results that avocados are yielding in the province of Valencia, both in terms of production and marketing, are currently an incentive to grow this tropical fruit.
Over the last 5 years, more than 40,000 plants have been planted in the province of Valencia alone (more than 10 hectares), with the Lamb Hass being the flagship variety due to the good yields obtained per hectare, which double those of the Hass.
La Safor, La Vall de la Valldigna, Gandia, Picassent, Torrente or Sagunto are some of the towns that account for most of the production.
While the quality of the Lamb Hass is slightly lower than that of the Hass (currently the best avocado for fresh consumption), the fact is that it is working very well in the markets, with very active demand and profitable prices for the producers.
Right now, at a global level, the demand for avocados is greater than the supply, making it the most 'fashionable' tropical fruit.
The situation could not be more positive; however, Tomás Faulí, promoter of avocado cultivation in the Region of Valencia, warns that "you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket." In his view, the growers themselves should look to the future with a little perspective and be aware of the danger of focusing on a single variety, because "in the near future, the market may no longer be so receptive to the Lamb Hass, given that it is inferior to the Hass in terms of quality." It is clear that the producers cannot be blamed for going all in with the Lamb Hass, seeing the good results obtained, but "it would be advisable for producers to be cautious, as it is still a variety about which very little is known, agronomically speaking. For the time being, the cultivation and control procedures used with the Hass are employed, "but it is necessary to learn about the diseases that may arise, how to prevent them, how to perform the pruning or how to optimally use fertilizers with it, etc., in order to be ready for any problems that may arise in the future.
It is worth recalling what happened with the Rojo Brillante kaki and the fall of the fruits from the tree by the attack of the Mycosphaerella fungus," points out Tomás Faulí.
Lamb Hass avocados still have a long productive journey ahead in the Region of Valencia, and the demand worldwide has not yet reached its full potential, so it is a crop that will give many joys to the producer. However, Faulí points out that "its expansion has to be made with some control, as not all lands are suitable. There is still insufficient agronomic information. It is not yet known what could be done to fight a possible pest or disease; it is necessary to investigate further to achieve a qualitative improvement through cultivation techniques."
That is why Faulí calls for greater involvement on the part of the provincial administration, agrarian organizations and those responsible for agricultural research to respond to all these questions. "The IVIA, as a Valencian institute, should lead the research into Lamb Hass avocados and their cultivation in these lands," concluded Faulí.
Source: valenciafruits.com
