The harvest of achachairu started in Santa Cruz and producers plan to increase the number of fruits in the local market this year.
"We're currently selling 100 units at 20 Bs, but we must take into account that these are the first crops and that we expect to double production this year regarding last year's production, thus it is likely that prices will fall to 15 Bs," said Nue Moron, president of the Departmental Association of Horticultural and Fruit Growers (Asofrut).
Achachairu production lasts approximately 90 days. It is a plant that in its first harvests, after 6 or 7 years, yields between 200 and 300 fruits per tree and, in time, it can yield between 18,000 to 20,000 fruits. Porongo, LaGuardia, San Carlos and Buenavista are the areas that produce achachairu. The municipality of Porongo leads production with 450 hectares.
The 2014 harvested amounted to 25 million fruits and the plan is to double that number this year.
Plans for a pulper
Asofrut has presented a project to implement a pulping plant in Porongo. It will be supported by the Government and it is currently in its pre-investment stage.
"We are reviewing and providing technical assistance to shape the project and to support this initiative. We believe that by 2016 we will finish this stage with all the technical prerogatives to have the necessary budget for its implementation," said Luis Alberto Alpire, Production Development Secretary of the Governor's office.
According to Nue Moron, the operation of this plant will boost production by creating pulp and baking soda, using the fruit's shell to make wine and jelly, and using the seeds to grow seedlings. "The goal is to offer top quality fruit to the local market. The second and third quality fruit will be used to make pulp and wine. The goal is to achieve having an export quality production, so we can reach the European market," he said.
Julio Martinez, director of Productive Development in Porongo, said the achaichairu was the flagship fruit of the town because of its quality. "We encourage production and this year we are going to deliver 3,000 seedlings to the producers that want to venture into this business," he said.
