Fabrega regular visits growers in Asia to help them with specific topics and show them new products from Koppert
Through Koppert, Fabrega is working with the Chinese government on projects to disseminate natural pollination techniques using Natupol as well as the integrated control of pests and diseases via Natugro, Koppert's zero waste program. Consultancy in China is focused on tomatoes, peppers and strawberries, but they have also had some experiences with cucumbers and watermelons, as well as pioneering trials with exotic products such as ginger and ginseng.
"The Korean agriculture is similar to the Dutch version, they are very developed technologically. China is very different." According to Fabrega, Chinese citizens can get a nearly 700 square meter greenhouse through the government, intended for personal use and minimal subsistence sales."90% of the farmers are poor, but they are joining together, creating what we could call cooperatives, making farming more profitable and being able to invest in improvements; this, however, is just beginning."
Chinese producers have no knowledge of agriculture, "They build their greenhouses by copying their neighbour." He states that Chinese farmers were now beginning to implement drip irrigation, but didn't know how to use it. "They keep doing what their ancestors did." There are several areas in China where they open the greenhouse's windows on April the 15 so as to ventilate the greenhouse, "Always on the same day, even if it's very hot that day, they are methodical." Fabrega sees that there is a slight change, especially among young producers, as the older ones continue using their traditional techniques.
Source: Ideal.es