Colombia's Minister of Agriculture, Rodolfo Zea, praised the growth that the production and commercialization of Hass avocado has had in the country in the LR forum 'Myths and realities of Hass avocado in Colombia.' Nearly 4,000 producers in Colombia produce some 242,000 tons of Hass avocado a year on 32,000 hectares.
Zea highlighted the acceptance that the Hass avocado has had in the North American and Asian markets, reaching countries such as Korea, as well as countries in the European continent.
“Last year, our avocado exports amounted to 146 million dollars, i.e. 60% more than in the previous year. This year, we have exported 135 million and we'll soon surpass what we sold in all of 2020," he added.
The head of the Agriculture portfolio also told small and medium producers that Procolombia and the Ministry of Agriculture could help them to export the product directly, as long as they have a large volume of the product.
Rodolfo Zea highlighted the joint work that his portfolio is doing with entities committed to the nation's agriculture. “We work with Agrosavia and the Colombian Institute of Agriculture (ICA) to carry out the necessary controls. It's true that Colombia needs water, but the areas where the avocado is grown are characterized by being territories with high rainfall and where drainage channels are made to evacuate these waters; Furthermore, the Government is promoting the search for organic avocado production, with no or very few chemicals, taking advantage of the fertility of our land,” he added.
Finally, the National Government stressed the importance of encouraging the consumption and commercialization of Hass avocado, preserving the environment, and taking advantage of Colombia's climate and landscapes, to grow this promising fruit.
Source: agronegocios.co