La Huelva Strawberry Producers and Exporters Association (Freshuelva) has transferred to representatives of the Government of the Nation and of the Governing Council of the Junta de Andalucía the problem that drags the red fruit sector with the necessary products to proceed with the disinfection of soils for crops.

For this, the president and the manager of Freshuelva, Alberto garrocho y Rafael Dominguez, respectively, have held a meeting with the general director of Health of Agricultural Production of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Valentín Almansa; and with the general director of the Agricultural Production of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of the Junta de Andalucía, Manuel Gómez, who have traveled to Huelva to learn about the production of red fruits in the province in situ.

The CEOs also visited a pitahaya plantation, a new alternative crop for farmers.

Alberto Garrocho and Rafael Domínguez, as already mentioned to the Minister of Agriculture, louis planes, during his stay in Huelva last September for the inauguration of the 6th International Congress of Red Fruits, have influenced the need for national and regional governments to intercede with the European Commission for the authorization of the products that the sector needs for the disinfection of soils and that each campaign uses so responsibly, as also defended by the president of Freshuelva Viveristas, Alfredo Arcos.

In this sense, the Freshuelva manager has highlighted the sector's commitment, especially in the case of strawberry cultivation, to advance sustainability through the transformation of traditional production into hydroponics, which would mean significant savings in water and fertilizers, a greater possibility of producing for more months in the year and, therefore, a greater capacity to create a more stable job.

Rafael Domínguez has explained, however, that, to carry out this transformation that involves a significant investment in infrastructure, it is necessary to have incentives from the administrations, as is the case in other sectors and in other countries.

That is why Freshuelva has agreed to hold an upcoming meeting with representatives of the Junta de Andalucía in which the criteria and necessary requirements that Huelva producers must meet in order to access the aids that, for transformation and modernization processes are established. like the one intended in the sector, they are contemplated in the Rural Development funds.

Valentín Almansa and Manuel Gómez, also accompanied by the head of the Plant Health service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rafael Sánchez, they knew first-hand the current situation of the strawberry and blackberry plantation, as well as the development of the pitahaya cultivation in the province, as an example of the commitment of the red fruit sector for the diversification of crops that the markets demand.