Citrus Production Success Story
(Link to Citrus Production Project Description)
Citrus Production in Santa Fe de Tutirihuara
The leader and spokesperson of the citrus producers of the colony of Santa Fé de Tutirihuara, Mr. Edwin Paco gave us information that shows the results and project impact. According to this interview made on July 2006 we can summarize the following points:
- The technical assistance was of great help.
- New knowledge and skills in citrus management were generated.
- The handbook provided brought a better soil management and it is also a bibliographic reference for other learning processes.
- The handbook and the technical assistance improved the grafting techniques and the knowledge to treat the plant as an life being.The pruning is made according to the handbook guidelines.
- With the new pruning technique, the production is much better (quality, quantity and size of fruits). With the handbook and technical guidelines regarding orchard management and pruning the production is better which creates better prices.
- With usage and a good soil management, the humidity stays, reducing the effects of dry season.
- They also control the diseases such as gummosis following instructions of the expert and the handbook.
- It is hoped that the production of the plants given by the project occurs this year. There are high expectations for the production since the trees are in good shape.
- This project was one of the first institutional to support citrus producers.
- The producers are motivated to diversify with the implementation of citrus greenhouses.
Mr. Edwin Paco said the following:
It was very useful for me that I learnt during the project, the handbook reminds me what to do regarding the plantation and soil management, it is useful for me to graft, we have learnt to treat the plant as an life being…I do the pruning as indicated in the handbook… managing as we were taught, the fruits turn out better, what we produce now has a better price because of its way to ripen… the kudzú coverage that we implemented with the project was very useful to keep the soil humidity…that is better in dry season,… we also control and prevent gummosis as we were taught…to apply what we learnt is important…it turned out well for me, to the weak people that do not like to work it turn out bad…we hope that the production of the plants that we received happens this year, we believe will be a good one because the plants are in very good shape…when we get the production of the plants we will say: these are the fruits of the plants received by ACDI/VOCA…please come in and we will show them with proud…
