Growers in Ecuador’s Tungurahua region have seen a 10% increase in fruit harvests for the current season, due to volcanic ash from the local volcano, website hoy.com.ec reported.

In particular, pears, apples, strawberries and various local tropical varieties have benefited.

While volcanic ash is a large threat if it falls while trees are flowering, in the long-term it increases soil nutrients.

The Tungurahua volcano spurted ash for five months from December 2010 and April 2011.

The story reported the increase in volumes has brought new interest among the local population to continue or return to fruit growing.

Over the last decade many growers abandoned the activity due to low crop profitability and heavy agricultural investment costs.

However, a third of the region's population, 171,000 people, are involved in the agricultural industry with 204,000 hectares dedicated to fruit growing.

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Photo: Bebesymas.com

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