Mexico City – The protocol to produce cloned coastal pineapple in laboratories in Jalisco is progressing steadily, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER). Authorities seek to expand the production of the fruit due to the demand for it both in the national and international markets.
In the last 5 years, the pineapple production area in this Mexican state has increased from 200 hectares to 2,000 hectares, bringing together more than 100 producers from various municipalities in Jalisco. The challenge for producers is to reach 5,000 hectares in order to satisfy export orders.
“We are working on the issue of how to link different entities to make a better work route, including the Pineapple Product System and producers,” said the director of Horticultural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER Jalisco), Nestor Olivares Mora.
Pineapple agribusiness is slow, as one must wait 14 months for the harvest after having planted the plants. However, the fruit offers good profitability, as producers can be paid 15 pesos per kilogram for quality fruit. In addition, it has a commercial window of 5 months starting in May.
According to SADER, the in vitro fruit production laboratory is already set up, and progress has been made in the production of pineapple suckers, which strengthens confidence that this project will expand production of this tropical fruit in Jalisco.
However, pineapple crops require a considerable investment, stated Luis Verduzco, the head of the Pineapple Product System in Jalisco. “Producers have to make a strong financial effort. They must spend 2 pesos for each plant and each hectare requires 50,000 plants. In addition, they must cover other expenses, such as fertilization and sanitary tasks, which means they must invest at least 200,000 pesos per hectare.”
The municipality of Tomatlan, Jalisco is among the 10 municipalities with the most pineapple plantations nationwide.
Source: heraldodemexico.com.mx
