Pineapple Exports Will Grow in 2020 Despite the Coronavirus

Cuban agriculture is immersed, like other sectors of the economy, in increasing exports to improve the financial balance sheet and provide current resources to mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus.

In Ciego de Avila, the Cuban province that has the highest production of pineapple on the island, the use of a new variety called “Perola” is being expanded. Due to its characteristics, this variety has a yield between 60 and 70 tons per hectare, more juice, less acidity, less cultivation time and a greater mass in comparison with the “Española Roja” and the “Cayena Lisa”, the most cultivated bromeliads in the country.

In the process of introducing the new variety, the Bioplant Center of the University of Ciego de Avila, “Máximo Gómez Báez”, plays an important role. Its scientists obtained 13,500 vitroplants with greater adaptability to soil conditions, pest behavior and climate.

The European market demands a high consumption of this fruit, mainly in the winter months, which will be very beneficial for producing and exporting entities and will allow them to surpass the export levels achieved in the previous year.

Cuban exports of agricultural products were affected by climatic and financial issues, an issue that is trying to reverse by providing more efficiency to the production that has the purpose of export.

Market diversification is also a priority for the Cuban economy in general and for agriculture in particular.