Onions Peru bags

Onion production area has fallen 4.3 per cent

Peru's horticultural output is expected to continue its recent growth during 2012/13 following an expected increase in production area for certain products.

According to agriculture ministry Minag, 22 selected items that account for 42 per cent of the country's agricultural revenue now cover a total of 2.18m hectares, up 3.3 per cent on the previous year.

As reported by AMI in Germany, the products included potatoes, sweetcorn, onions, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, tomatoes and garlic. Asparagus was not included in the survey.

Despite the overall increase, a 32.8 per cent decrease in production area was reported for garlic, alongside falls of 0.2 per cent for potatoes, 4.3 per cent for onions and 11.2 per cent for sweet potatoes.

As reported by Eurofruit earlier this month, the value of Peru's table grape exports rose by 53 per cent to US$328m during 2011/12 on the back of a 47 per cent rise in sales volume.

Planted area for blueberries in the country, meanwhile, is reportedly set to exceed 500ha by 2013, more than doubling the existing 200ha under production.