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High hopes for citrus:
Notable
yields in
new groves
Ventura de Jesús García Gutiérrez
TORRIENTE, Jagüey Grande.— The
planting of
550
hectares of citrus fruit
this year
reinforces the aims of
Matanzas
growers to gradually
restore the
once abundant groves
of this vast area, most of
which are 30
to 40 years
old, with all having suffered the
effects of the disease
known as Huanglongbing
(HLB).
Armando Perdomo García,
director of the
Victoria
de Giron Citrus
Company,
said that, with this
volume,
the recovery program has planted a total
of
5,500
hectares,
with more disease resistance varieties, narrower
planting frames
and positioning of a
proven nature.
He
explained that these new
areas are
monitored continuously and
undergo rigorous
phytosanitary controls
each week
to counter the onslaught
of the citrus destroying disease.
This is
precise work that takes
into account every detail,
he added, explaining that
trees are being planted in plots
which are distanced from the
old
groves.
At
the same time, the company is
making the most of the
productive
potential of
the diseased groves
(about
8,000
hectares),
with these tree branches used
to make charcoal
destined
mainly for export.
So
far this
year
growers have produced over
30,000 tons of citrus fruit
and are due, thanks to the
grapefruit (already
underway) and orange
harvests, to exceed
70,000 tons,
a volume
far from the best achieved by the company in the
past, but
a sign that
citrus production
in the region
is recovering.
According to experts,
the good news
is that
the first crops of the
replanting program averaged
a yield of about 20 tons
per hectare.
Also positive is
the availability of
fertilizer
to ensure the application of the
full standard set
out for new areas,
as well as in old groves with a
yield of
five or more tons per
hectare.
As a
result
of diversification, the
company also produces
tomatoes, peppers,
cucumbers and other species in
47
protective greenhouses and is developing a wide
ranging agricultural base.
According to
García
Perdomo,
if the necessary
phytosanitary control is
maintained, along with
required nutrition and
irrigation, there is a real
possibility that
citrus trees can live with
the disease and
even
achieve notable yields.
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