almendreroFARMERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MEDIANIAS TO ACTIVATE THE SECTOR AND MEET THE DEMAND INSULAR ALMOND.

Farmers in the municipality of San Bartolome de Tirajana may join the project of the Commonwealth of the mediocrities of Gran Canaria for the recovery of farms dedicated to the efficient cultivation of almond trees as smart farms, rational and profitable.

The technique of the Commonwealth, Margarita Navarro Rodríguez, He invited the farmers through a lecture he gave on the almendrero and possibilities, within the framework of the third Fair Farmer.

Aware of its agricultural potential and securing the population to towns, Commonwealth consists of the municipalities of Santa Brigida, San Mateo, Tejeda, Valsequillo and San Bartolome de Tirajana aims to turn this year the production of almonds to cover the island and even export demand if possible.

Experts from around the world praise the excellent quality of the almond grancanaria, and there are orders from California, Germany and England. However, paradoxically each month at the port of Las Palmas an exclusive container almonds to meet the needs of the Island, mainly because crops of almond trees are abandoned and not seen as organized farms.

To enable local production and the Commonwealth Association of Gran Canaria Almendrero are working side by side. One of his guidelines is in search of higher production almond trees star, and the study of the areas may be implemented.

On the other hand, since last February have launched the project 'active Almendra' for the establishment of new modern and competitive agricultural plantations of this fruit, which is grown between 500 and the 1.500 meters above sea level, in areas leeward, with sun and without the influence of the trade.

To that end, and thanks to a grant from the Canary Islands Employment Service of around 140.000 EUR, the Commonwealth has contracted until next August to 18 unemployed trained for a month to form gangs acting on farms abandoned or newly created expressly aimed at holding organized almond trees.

Among the tasks they perform include the cleaning, opening holes, grafts, across, fertilized, Irrigation installation, transfer paths, bricklaying and other. To date they have already intervened in six farms Tejeda, although crews are available to any farmer belonging to the Association of Almendra.

On the other hand, Commonwealth also plans to carry out in November purchasing 4.000 units Vayro varieties of almond trees, Marinada y Constantí, to proceed with planting during December. Each unit costs borne by the Cabildo, Commonwealth and farmers own a third each, although the specifications to be met by participants is pending.

"The almond trees we have now are a very important landscape and ethnographic heritage but are not profitable at the farm level for poor hillside location without access, because their low are not clean, or because they have been genetically degenerating over time”, According to Navarro.

So you want to start a process of recovery of its agricultural potential, and find our star variety, recognized by all for its exceptional quality. It is planned to recover abandoned farms and make new competitive plantations capable of supplying local markets ", technical points.

The Commonwealth believes that the almond, like apricot, It is a development opportunity for the region, with high performance. "It was profitable and remains profitable, because it is a tree that does not require too much at ground level, nor too much water, or too much fertilizer, but it can give a very high yield and a very interesting production, and there are people inside and outside the island willing to buy that production. Just need to get started ", Navarro says Rodriguez, which he insists on the incredible potential of almendrero.