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Early artichokes, tests carried out in Murcia
Spain
Monday 19 May 2008
The Agriculture ministry of Murcia is testing the possibility to obtain early artichoke harvests for fresh consumption because of their greater profitability for the local sector, given the strong competition from Countries such as Peru and China in the production of artichoke for industry.
According to Angel Garcia Lidón, general director of Farming Modernization and Agricultural Training Centre, the Murcia Region is “the largest producer of artichokes in Spain, with more than 6,500 cultivated hectares. Our production accounts for 42% of the total national, and reaches some 120,000 tons per year, 70% of which goes to the processing industry”.
The manager explained that given the strong competition from third Countries, the local ministry of Agriculture decided to “experiment growing methods to move the artichoke harvesting earlier in order to destine the cultivation towards fresh consumption, which is more profitable, and reduce the percentage intended for processing.”
Therefore a research project has been developed by the Agriculture ministry, through the Regional Agricultural Bureau Cartagena-Mar Menor, and the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, based on the use of gibberellic acid as precocity inducer. According to Garcia Lidón, “facts have shown that the use of gibberellin in the new seed cultivars can induce the formation of inflorescences thus make it possible to begin harvesting in autumn”.
According to Angel Garcia Lidón, general director of Farming Modernization and Agricultural Training Centre, the Murcia Region is “the largest producer of artichokes in Spain, with more than 6,500 cultivated hectares. Our production accounts for 42% of the total national, and reaches some 120,000 tons per year, 70% of which goes to the processing industry”.
The manager explained that given the strong competition from third Countries, the local ministry of Agriculture decided to “experiment growing methods to move the artichoke harvesting earlier in order to destine the cultivation towards fresh consumption, which is more profitable, and reduce the percentage intended for processing.”
Therefore a research project has been developed by the Agriculture ministry, through the Regional Agricultural Bureau Cartagena-Mar Menor, and the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, based on the use of gibberellic acid as precocity inducer. According to Garcia Lidón, “facts have shown that the use of gibberellin in the new seed cultivars can induce the formation of inflorescences thus make it possible to begin harvesting in autumn”.
