Ricardo Polis is an industrial engineer by profession and began his working life in the mechanical metal world. For 30 years he has been linked to agriculture, dealing with different areas of the food chain. He was general manager of the Consortium of Fruit Products (CPF), of Agrícola Hoja Redonda and Bodega Viñas de Oro, he was also president of Procitrus, and of the Association of Agricultural Producers Guilds of Peru (AGAP).

“I have done everything, I have sold fruit, then I became a producer and now I am in the genesis, selling plants to the production industry. Therefore, I am half a wild card, ”he declares to the media.

Since 2017 he has been part of Fall Creek and is currently regional director for South America at Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc. As a renowned specialist, he participated in the XIX International Blueberry Seminar that took place on March 9 and 10 in Lima, presenting on "The keys to Peruvian success and future challenges to face."

Historic context

On the occasion, he made an extensive recount of the main elements that could explain the Peruvian success of the blueberry export industry and the Peruvian agro-export industry in general, listing a dozen historical moments carried out, both by the Peruvian State and by the private world. of the company and agricultural production. Concluding and highlighting that it has been the joint effort of the different actors - public and private - that has allowed the Peruvian agro-export industry to achieve the achievements it currently enjoys in the world market.

Main challenges

In the field of challenges, he is emphatic in warning that the windows that Peru enjoyed in the world market are over and that prices have been adjusted, so "it is in this reality that we must plan."

water and labor

“We must address the problem of water in Peruvian agriculture, which has mostly been developed on the coast, which is a desert. There are interesting jobs in the Peruvian highlands, which is where there is more water, but for those of us in the desert this is a great challenge. Within this framework, I would continue to develop the alternative of production in pots, with technical irrigation and much more control. Also the workforce in many countries is a problem, so the alternative is mechanization. I can tell you in advance that varieties that can be harvested mechanically are already being developed,” he warns.

Consumption and markets

In the variant of promoting domestic consumption, Ricardo Polis insists on his appeal to private companies and the Peruvian State, which, in his opinion, should be working together, "because consumption must be strongly promoted, and in this way it can spread and also open new and better markets”.

Infrastructure

“We have to support and insist on the State to continue building and improving infrastructure, transportation and communication routes, ports, airports, internet, education, training centers, etc., and especially the irrigation projects that are stopped. We must demand that these projects be completed. I'm talking specifically about Chavimochic III and Majes Siguas II, which in theory should be ready. If these projects are developed, we could have between 150 and 200 formal jobs for Peru”, he assures.

best fruit

“Finally, the challenge for Peru is that we have to think about varietal replacement. More cost efficient productive varieties should be sought. That they offer a fruit of greater caliber, that is attractive and more efficient when harvesting it. Also promote greater firmness over time and a better combination of acidity - brix to offer a better consumption experience."

The expert warns producers and related companies that there are already varieties on the market producing larger and better-tasting fruit, "and once there is sufficient critical mass, supermarkets will begin to order these fruits and we must be ready, because they will be demanding The same story is going to happen to us that has happened to us in mandarins and grapes… that are going to start displacing the old varieties to replace them with these better products”, he concludes.