The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the National Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies (Odepa), led the first session of the National Fruit Board, whose main goal is to give advice on fruit matters to the Ministry of Agriculture, exposing the sector's problems and possible solutions.
Yesterday, in its first session, the Table was led by the Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, who was accompanied by the National Director of Odepa, Maria Emilia Undurraga. Representatives of other entities dependent on this portfolio, such as the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), the Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), Agroseguros, and the Chilean Agency for Food Safety and Quality (Achipia), as well as of trade associations such as the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile AG (Asoex), which was represented by its president, Ronald Bown, who was accompanied by Francisco Albornoz, Manager of the Foundation for Fruit Development (FDF), and representatives of the SNA, Fedefruta, Frucentro, Fruséptima, UvaNova, ChileFresh, Surnat, Rucaray, SAN, AG Nurseries, the Association of Nurseries of Chile AGV, Decofrut, and the Hass Avocado Committee of Chile, among other entities, were also present in the meeting.
"Odepa, by decree, has around 14 national tables that are advisory entities of the Ministry of Agriculture. We had meat, milk, grains, and honey tables, among others, but we didn't have a table of fresh fruit, and we all know how important this sector is for the Chilean Agro, as it creates nearly 6 billion dollars of income for the country. That is why, after the decree to create this table was published, we are holding this table's first session (...) This table's work will be to advise the Ministry of Agriculture. Participants of the table can present their problems, but at the same time present solutions (...) This table will allow us to know the problems and ideas from the real world," said Minister Walker.
The Minister of Agriculture led the first session of this panel that will seek to identify and provide solutions to the problems of national fruit growing
He also said that the topics analyzed in this first session would be divided into 4 working committees to move forward with them and their solutions. "In this first session, we discussed many issues that we need to work on, such as the country's image, research, credibility, the need to safeguard the country's phytosanitary and sanitary patrimony, as well as safety in the fields, and the availability of the water," he stated.
Odepa will be in charge of coordinating this table, a job that will be led by its director, María Emilia Undurraga, who told SimFRUIT: "This table is a great opportunity to bring together the different actors of the national fruit sector. I think that the disposition we saw in this first session to contribute, not only in the diagnosis of the problems but also in delivering ideas and proposals, is very valuable. In addition, this also shows that this government is open to listen to the problems, and proposals."
The President of ASOEX valued the constitution of this table and said: "It constitutes a great challenge for the public and private sector to adopt indispensable agreements, to achieve improving the competitiveness of the national fruit industry and assume joint responsibilities to defend our phytosanitary status and contribute to improve our country image."
The commissions should start working in less than a month, once they have been defined, according to the topics they will analyze.
Muñoz also noted that 55.5% of the exported FOB was concentrated in two countries: the United States and China.
According to data from ASOEX's Expordata, Chile exported more than 2.7 million tons of fresh fruits to the world in the 2017-2018 season.
Source: SimFRUIT
