The climate will advance mango harvest

Ecuadornews:

Mango Foundation indicated that in the 2017 campaign the country exported 13’685,119 boxes of fruit, 1% more than in 2016. In August, Guayaquil will host the VII International Congress of the sector.

Although the annual harvest of the Ecuadorian exportable mango crop is beginning in October, it is already predicted that this will be advanced due to climatic issues. Johnny Jara, executive director of Mango Foundation, said that due to the cold temperatures of the night added to the heat of the morning, which helps a lot to the flowering of the fruit, the collection and export of this product would begin in mid-September next until the end of December.

“We have a type of mango, called Ataulfo, an early variety, which due to the effects of the weather will come out in mid-September, when it usually leaves at the beginning of October,” said Jara. For this reason, Mango Foundation has already requested the presence of an inspector from the Plant and Animal Safety Inspection Service (Aphis) of the United States Department of Agriculture, to tour the Ecuadorian farms in order to access the certification to export the fruit to said market.

According to data of the union, for the third consecutive year, Ecuador experiences an increase in its exportable mango shipments; on this occasion it was 1%. According to the foundation, in the 2017 campaign the sector exported 13’685,119 four-kilo boxes with fruit, 57,982 more boxes in relation to the same period of 2016-2017, when it reached 13,627,137.

The exported last year represented currencies for $ 41’055.357. The main buyer of Ecuadorian mango is the United States, with 92% of the fruit exported, followed by Canada with 3%, New Zealand with 2%, while the rest is divided between Europe, Mexico, Chile and other countries. America.

Jara indicated that currently there are approximately 5,500 hectares, distributed in 105 haciendas. 95% of these cultivation areas are in Guayas, 3.5% in Los Ríos, and the remaining percentage is in El Oro and Santa Elena.

“The mango is a stationary product, that is, it is not exported all year round, like cocoa and bananas. Due to its geographical location, Ecuador only harvests in the last quarter of each year, “he said.

In previous statements, the former president of Fundación Mango, Sergio Cedeño, explained that there is little interest in investing in planting the fruit. He explained it is because it is “a very difficult crop”, since production takes between four and five years.

He affirmed that in Ecuador there are no long-term credits for a person to bet on this activity. “It is difficult to pay a loan when the production of this crop takes between four and five years and on the other hand, the markets are very complicated at times.

There are times when producers lose and others in which we win, “said Cedeño.

VII International Congress

By the end of next August, Guayaquil will receive experts worldwide at the VII International Congress of Mango, whose aim is to present the technological advances of the production of the fruit. It is estimated that around 400 attendees will participate in the event, of which 50% are foreigners: Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Central American countries and others.

“The idea of this Congress is to train producers. Here we will discuss issues of fertilization, irrigation, nutrition, diseases, pests, harvest, post-harvest, there will be a talk on the American market that will be given by the National Mango Board, among other topics, “said Jara.

Chilean and Argentine experts will also participate.

Production

Nine varieties are grown: Tommy Atkins, Kent, Ataulfo, Keitt, Haden, Francis, Nacdocmai, Alfonso and Naomi are the exportable mango varieties that are currently cultivated and produced in the 5,500 hectares that are registered in the country.

4 kilos is the capacity of the box used by the national productive sector to export the fruit to countries such as the US, Canada and others.

Two days of congress

On August 30 and 31, the VII Mango International Congress will be held at the Oro Verde Hotel in Guayaquil. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/cosecha-mango-ecuador-clima