The Guanábana industry in Colombia has been going through a complex situation on behalf of the fall in sales, which has specifically impacted the production and export of exotic fruit.
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According to different producers in this sector, in recent months, Sales of this fruit have fallen between 30% and 40% due to low demand both in the internal and external marketso crop productivity has contracted at 80%.
Factors such as sugar tax, international product ignorance and difficulties to export them have put in check to producers and merchants in the sector. According to Carolina Lopera, Guanábana producer, The sugar tax implemented by the Government is the one that has really had a direct impact on the sector.
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“The price of products that use Guanábana as raw material has increased, making them less competitive in the market“, He says. This situation has caused a decrease in demand, affecting processors, exporters and retailers who have seen their sales and profits reduced.
While this is a Colombian crop that represents a small fraction of agriculture, faces another series of difficulties that complicate its commercialization, Not only in the national market, but also in the international.
For Álvaro Palacio, president of the Hortifrusco Association of Colombia (Asohofrucol), Guanábana is not a widely known product abroad, so there are almost no buyers. This, taking into account that Market niches are very small and there are also commercial restrictions and tariffs that hinder their export.
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“Guanábana export requires an industrialization process that includes specific certifications and adjustments, which represents a challenge for small producers, who lack the resources to meet these requirements”He said.
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Other points to take into account about the crisis facing this fruit, has to do with climatic conditions, which have also played a role within the challenges. Sebastián Londoño, biologist and producer of Guanábana, says that Cultivation productivity has fallen by 80 % due to winter.
“We have not been able to export because low productivity does not allow us to commit to markets“He commented. To this is added the increase in production costs.” The price of Guanábana has not risen in recent years, but the cost of labor, which is the greatest expense, has more than duplicated, “says Londoño.
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Given this panorama, Londoño stressed that some producers have begun to consider the eradication of crops. “The strategy we are thinking is the eradication of the crop. The only eradication that will really work“He lamented.
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And the associativity?
The lack of associativity among small producers aggravates the problem within the sector. Álvaro Palacio warned that, although the “tropical agriculture” model could reduce production costs by 70%, This would only be viable if the farmers were associated.
“As long as they do not decrease costs, they are not associated to apply the model and do not join to set up a processing plant, the situation will remain difficult“He explained. In addition, he pointed out that in Colombia there has never been an adequate model for fruits production.” Society is too complex and the lack of organization among producers prevents the industry from prospering, “he emphasized.
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One of the main problems faced by Guanábana is its low popularity in the national market. Although it is a fruit with nutraceutical properties, Its per capita consumption in Colombia is still low.
“In Colombia, guanabana is not consumed, domestic demand is not strong and that makes producers depend too much on the international market“Lopera says. This complicates the situation, since, as there is no consolidated domestic market, any fluctuation in external demand seriously affects the profitability of the sector.
The problem is not only the lack of consumption, but also the lack of technology and infrastructure to process the guanábana efficiently. “Exporting fresh guanábana is almost impossible. You need to process, extract the pulp and meet international standards, but small producers do not have the resources to do so“Palacio indicates.
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Possible solutions
Despite the crisis that has been evidenced in this sector, Producers consider that it is possible to address a series of measures to enhance the consumption and export of guanábana in Colombia.
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However, it is important to consider that without specialized processing plants and without adequate certifications, access to international markets becomes an insurmountable challenge for most farmers.
To reverse the situation, producers consider that a greater promotion of the product abroad is key. “We would love for procolombia to give Guanaban a better campaign to make it known in the world as a nutraceutical fruit“Carolina Lopera suggests.
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This fruit has a high potential as superfood due to its antioxidant properties and health benefits. However, so far, promotion actions have been insufficient and fruit is still unknown in most international markets, according to producers.
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