The regional Ministry of Agriculture in Valencia, on the advice of the Valencian agriculture research IVIA 'Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias', has developed a pepper variety that can better withstand salt coming from the soil or from irrigation.
In collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, trials with eight different varieties have shown that a significantly higher efficiency and better quality is achieved from inoculated plants. The results open better economic opportunities for peppers in its entirety. Specifically, in areas with a high salt content in the soil, a much higher production and better quality is possible.
In Valencia the production of these peppers is concentrated in La Vega Baja del Segura, in the South of the province of Alicante, especially in the village of Pilar de la Horadada, and in the horticultural area of Valencia, El Perello. The total agricultural area for pepper cultivation is 650 hectares, with a production of 38,549 tons. Consumption in Valencia increased by 24,089 tons in 2012, amounting to 36.7 million euros.
Source: valenciaeconomica.com