The Peruvian pecan industry aims to increase its cultivated area to 1,500ha by 2015 in a bid to capitalize on growing international demand, according to Peruvian Institute of Exporters (IPEX) agribusiness consultant Carlos Villanueva Mendoza.

"Currently, we have more than one thousand hectares of the crop, although the statistics from the ministries speak of 700 hectares," he told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"However, national productivity still does not reach international standards like in Mexico for example which produces 3.5-4 (metric) tons per hectare, while Peru has an average of 2.5 (metric) tons per hectare. This is due purely to the issue of technology, knowledge."

He highlights that the concentration of Peru's pecan production is in Ica, but starting next year growers plan on expanding the crop into the northern and southern coastal zones.

"We are discusing the issue of profitability and next year we expect to be planting. Everything is linked to the issue of international demand - there is a large market that is interested in China, because they don't have areas to plant there and are looking to products in other countries, which make business attractive."

Villanueva Mendoza emphasized that 80-90% of Peru's production was destined for export, mentioning China and the United States as the main destination markets.

"Our principal markets are China, the U.S., Mexico even though they produce, and Canada, a country that is very interested in dried fruit, mainly because of climatic conditions.

"Dried fruit consumption is more accentuated in countries with low temperatures, because they have a low level of calories. Peru has a subtropical climate so it doesn't have strong pecan consumption, which is why a large part of production goes to export."

The calorie content is not the only characteristic that catches the attention of consumers around the globe, with Villanueva Mendoza also pointing to its high antioxidant levels.

"The projections that we have for the take-off of exports for 2021 has to do more than anything with the global market. Obviously, it [the market] is placing a lot on the consumption of products with high antioxidant content, so in terms of dried fruit the pecan has the highest possibility."

He said that the nut's popularity had prompted production interest in other South American countries too; there is currently interest in Argentina and Chilean growers are starting to plant it too. The expert warned that despite the pecan's commercial benefits, there growers who decided to take it on faced great difficulties.

"In the case of pecans the time of income for the crop's profitability is approximately in the seventh year, unlike for grapes, avocados and mangoes, which is the fourth year.

"This is both an advantage and a disadvantage - an advantage because few enter the business and there is a low supply, and a disadvantage because of the issue of risk in the first years."

He said exports would remain stable in the coming years at an average of 100 metric tons (MT) annually to 2021, while it was expected that the quality of Peru's pecan nuts would improve over this time.

www.freshfruitportal.com