Going organic is changing the lives of avocado growers in Ancash and Lima

Providing an upscale segment of the market with a healthier product is certainly resulting in higher income for organic avocado growers but, more than that, organic certification is improving their living standard and helping them take care of the environment

By applying Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) standards, the growing of organic avocado contributes to the environment preservation and ensures that labor standards are properly in place.

Marcelino Muñoz and his son Celso are avocado growers who own a 1.4 ha land parcel in Vilcahuaura (Lima region). They are members of the Avocado Producers Association who were swindled by a short term opportunistic buying company in the 2007-2008 agricultural season, an action which left a trace of mistrust towards new avocado exporting companies.
Having identified a great opportunity in the growing demand for certified organic avocado in international markets, the PRA Project came in to articulate the value chain and restore confidence by bringing in not only technical assistance but also a purchasing company that growers could rely on: Eurofresh Perú, a subsidiary of Eurofresh Vegetales y Frutas, a Spanish trader that operates in the European market.

PRA is providing technical assistance for the organic certification of 100 ha of avocados in Huaura in Lima region, and Casma and Santa in Ancash region. In addition, PRA will incorporate new producers and a new production area (180 more ha), and will provide technical assistance to increase productivity. Working closely with small producers, Eurofresh Perú is providing the organic certification and is also supplying financial support to buy manure. In the first year of this project, 34 avocado growers have been trained on biological controllers and the design and implementation of Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) strategies. Global GAP standards aim to build consumers’ trust on the way agricultural production is done, minimizing negative impacts on the environment, reducing the use of chemical inputs, and ensuring a responsible behavior to preserve laborers’ good health and physical security.

Celso Muñoz has gladly embraced the challenge of organic certification. He is using compost instead of chemical fertilizers, and natural biocides instead of conventional synthetic products. From the weeds he removes, he prepares mulch for the soil. He and other growers have installed signs on the roads and on working areas. So far, his production’s yield has increased to 17 ton/ha in the 2008-2009 season, well above the national average of 10 ton/ha.

The application of Global GAP standards require that toilet facilities and warehouses are set up in the fields. Growers have replicated this requirement at their dwellings, improving their toilet premises and properly separating production inputs in spaces apart from the rooms of the households.

The first results of this initiative for the period November 2009-September2010 are encouraging: US$526,504 in exports mainly from traditional products, 57 new jobs in the peruvian andes, and a new investment of US$192,235 in the Eurofresh Perú processing plant located in Huacho, Lima region.