The Mexican avocado is winning markets overseas. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) reported that, in the first half of this year, exports of this product increased by 29% when compared to the same period in 2013.
Total sales of the product between January and June 2014 amounted to U.S. $794,446,000, with an estimated volume of 353,000 tons.
According to a preliminary report by Sagarpa, Mexican avocados were marketed in 21 markets among which the United States, Japan, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, France, Guatemala, Spain, China, Netherlands, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Singapore and Belgium stand out because of their economic value.
Avocado exports to China in the first six months of the year increased significantly, 724% in its value on an annual basis, and amounted to U.S. $2,970,000, i.e. 1,260 tons.
The Netherlands also grew significantly in this period, as shipments to this market amounted to 293.7 tons and $647,000, almost three times more than what was sold to them in the first half of 2013.
Mexico exported $651,328,000 in avocados to the United States, the country's main export market, 31% more than in the first half of 2013.
SAGARPA stated that the second most important destination for this fruit was Japan, with sales for $61.7 million dollars in the reference period, 29% more than in the same period last year.
Canada followed with $40.6 million, and a 33% increase; then Costa Rica, with $12.7 million, i.e. an 18% increase, and El Salvador, with $9.3 million and 13% more than in the same period in 2013.
According to the SIAP, the country produces about 1,467,000 tons of avocados per year in 27 states.
The states with the greatest production are Michoacan with 1,193,000 tons; Jalisco, with 87,000 tons; the state of Mexico, with 56,000 tons; Nayarit, with 34,000; Morelos, with 27,000, and Guerrero, with 14,000 tons. The cultivation of this product is carried in 168,113 hectares.
In pursuit of global agriculture
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is clear: Mexico may become one of the major players in world agriculture if it projects its potential, so the federal government should propose an agrarian reform in accordance with this perspective.
Victor Villalobos, General Director of IICA, said Mexico had an important vocation in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables (such as avocado, mango, tomatoes, peppers, etc.), and that it was one of the leading producers of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.
However, he said, the country requires a more open policy and campaigns to better position their products in the world, because most of them are placed in the United States and the country isn't taking Latin America's potential into account.
If the country continues wasting opportunities and its agriculture doesn't become more modern and technological, it risks becoming a dependent nation of agricultural and livestock products, due to the population growth and the lower class turning into the middle class.
In his opinion, "this scenario would be very unfortunate because we would be depending on imported products, and we currently have a rather unfortunate percentage in this, which is above 50%."
Source: informador.com.mx