SAN JUAN, Dominican Republic. – Continuously but discreetly, the planting of fruit trees is threatening the reign of the traditional crops in this western province’s vast and fertile valley, as more than 6,000 hectares are currently being used for 12 varieties.

The zone currently has around 2,100 hectares of avocado, 90 percent of whose crop is exported to the United States and Europe; around 1,500 hectares of lemon and 12,000 hectares of mangos, to name a few.

The lands being cultivated for fruit trees are of such quality they were previously planted with such traditional crops as rice, beans, cassava, sweet potato, vegetables and plantains.

The planting of fruit trees has expanded to the point that an association which groups them is already formed, and plans to market the fruit in the local and international for the next few years.

Fruit tree planters point to the high production costs and of agricultural products as having influenced them to try new crops after years of harvesting traditional ones. The also note that buyers of many fruit, unlike rice and beans, go to the farm itself and bid on the harvest, which allows growers more profits

Though the trees begin to bear fruit at least two or three years after grafting or planting, they are much more resistant to disease and the weather, compared with practically all other crops harvested in the country.

Source: DominicanToday.com