Report from Gilbert Heijens, Horti-Consult International:
Argentina: tomato most popular in greenhouses around Buenos Aires
Argentina
Horticulture in Argentina is mainly concentrated in the north: mostly made up of large companies relying on open field cultivation. In the northwest cultivation focuses on tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. In Argentina there are about 4,000 hectares of greenhouses. Buenos Aires has less than 60% of total, about whiches 60-70% is Tomato (fluctuating and competing with Sweet peppers, eggplants, cucumbers and spinaches and lettuces, depending of product's prices in the auction). Flowers are sometimes grown in glasshouses as well.
In the area around Buenos Aires, there is a 1000-ha acreage of plastic greenhouses. Since the advent of rootstock breeding in tomato, production has increased by 10%. Almost all produce heads for the domestic market. Main competitor is Mexico. Growers have tried to gain traction in the market through cooperation and the establishment of cooperatives, but this has largely failed.
Various crops
It’s mostly Italians who actually own the businesses. The work on the farms is executed by Bolivians. Bolivians work for $ 10 per day. They live in company accommodation, often with their entire family. The children have access to free education and medication, although it’s not clear whether workers actually make use of these facilities.
The companies have a surface area of 2 to 15 ha. Typically, several crops are grown, such as beef tomatoes, plum tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants. Special crop types are less cultivated as the price of seeds is relatively high. The cultivation methods often resemble those in Spain and Italy.
Plant nursery Romina
Plant nursery Romina has specialized in the cultivation of young plants: tomatoes, peppers, and also leafy vegetables and herbs. The company had a potting department. A germ room features lighting and climate control facilities.
Some companies in the region have specialized in the cultivation of lettuce and herbs in water. The equipment, such as type of greenhouse and accessories, are not as advanced as those used by the Japanese in Brazil. Cultural improvements are needed to achieve better results.
Earlier reports
Heijens reported about earlier expeditions made by the company.
Read more about horticulture in Sao Paulo.
Read more about horticulture area Holambra.
Educational tours in both rural and urban areas are partly due to the grandiose assistance of the people of Rijk Zwaan in both Brazil and Argentina. Many thanks to Gilvan Marcelo Sala, Valerio Maldonado da Silveira and Lioel Bardin for Brazil, and Fernando Brizuela of Rijk Zwaan SA Argentina.
See the pictorial here.
More information:
Gilbert Heijens
Horti-Consult International
info@horti-consult.nl
www.horti-consult.nl