Moves Made to Improve Pineapple Production and Competitiveness

The National Competitiveness Council (CNC), the Dominican Agro-Business Council (JAD) and the Pineapple Producers Collective published a technical guide for pineapple cultivation called “Better Pineapples for Competitiveness,” with the objective of promoting the production of the fruit. The publication is actually an audiovisual documentary meant to motivate new producers while offering them technical orientation and support to achieve success in their growing activities.

Andrés van der Horst Álvarez said pineapples are the second most important tropical fruit in the world after mangos and that Dominican pineapple producers should take advantage of the incentives…

Within this framework, Andrés van der Horst Álvarez said pineapples are the second most important tropical fruit in the world after mangos and that Dominican pineapple producers should take advantage of the incentives being offered under the Law of Industrial Competitiveness to produce more and better fruit, according to a CNC report.

“With the help of PRODINDUSTRIA, the union of Productive Collectives and the leadership of JAD, we can and should take advantage of the agro-business incentives offered under the Law of Industrial Competitiveness to not only produce pineapples but also quality fruit that will be competitive in international markets thanks to the fact that they are of world quality excellence,” said the CNC Director.

Mario Velásquez, president of the producers group, followed the same line of reasoning. “Our efforts are oriented toward maintaining sustained growth of production and exports while consolidating and assuring that the country once again becomes the trustworthy and stable supplier that it was in the recent past.”

Executive Vice President of the Dominican Agro-Business Council, Martha Fernández, underscored the effort of the National Competitiveness Council in supporting this agricultural sector and in helping to make sure that our products can compete on the international market.

“It would not be possible to compete if we didn´t have information good training. With this informational video and instructive pamphlet, the CNC has once again given us the key. We have to train, educate and put in practice what we´ve learned in order to be able to have world quality products that we can place on the national as well as international market,” said Fernández.

Technical Guide for Pineapple Production

This material was produced and directed by Mario Núñez Muñoz. The research documentary was done by José Ramón Holguín. Leo Salazar was the director of photography.

The DVD contains three separate sections about pineapple promotion. The first is a documentary video that introduces the viewers to the general characteristics of pineapples, its cultivation and commercial possibilities. It also contains a photographic guide that helps viewers search information about new producers. It contains text that offers detailed information about the cultivation and production of pineapple.

The type of pineapple that is being promoted is the “golden” or MD2. This type of pineapple was decided upon because its cultivation “has produced a strong crop turnout due to the enthusiasm created among the growers based on their new business perspectives, the fruit´s warm acceptance into the local market, export prospects and acceptance into the international market. The appearance of the MD2 has created a new preference on the world market. The growth has been steady now for more than 5 years mainly in the fresh fruit market,” explained Mario Velásquez.

Andrés van der Horst Álvarez, Executive Director of the CNC and Martha Fernández, Executive Vice President of the Dominican Agro-Business Council (JAD)