SAN QUINTIN.- The opportunities in Baja in order to promote productivity, competitiveness and the exportations of local agri-food produces will be strengthen, starting with the initiatives proposed by business groups and producing organizations which go alongside the Federal and Sate Governments in order to create a synergy and work with a more profitable field that will generate a higher number of employment.
This, was one of the reached agreements
inside the framework of the extensive work tour that took place in the state and was led by
the the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA in Spanish), Enrique Martínez and State Governor Francisco Vega de Lamadrid, concluding in the San Quintín Valley, where a meeting with the region's producers was held in order to define a strategy that's led towards the strengthening of actions focused on promoting productivity.
This is how, SAGARPA, the Government of Baja and the region's berry agribusiness develop joint work, this way they are able to potentiate the opportunities for berry production (blackberry, cranberry and strawberry) and make progress within the sanitary protocols that will allow exportation to China, given that the San Quintín is considered to have productive potential that complements the North American and Asian (China, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong) market demands.
Among these work plans one that stands out is the work of infrastructure, such as the project for the operation of a sea water desalination plant which will allow during its first stage, 350 liters per second until reaching up to one thousand per second throughout the course of seven years, having as purpose the disposition of irrigation liquid that will cover 3,000 additional acres , improving the production of berries and its exportation quality.
At the same time, proper actions will take place in order to obtain a subsidiary electric quote, given the high productive characteristics of the project and the proper permits for drilling wells, safeguarding at all times the environment.
Executives of Berrymex and the Discoll´s group, William Hedrick Villalobos and Héctor Luján Valladolid, explained that this agribusiness will have as partners around 100 region berry producers, and that one of their major challenges was obtaining water supply, which is why the project "Baja Chapala" for desalinization is one feasible and sustainable alternative.
They also mentioned that there has been some progress regarding plant protection protocols between Mexico and China, thanks to the visit of technicians specialized in the matter of sanity from the Asian country, as well as the work of the National Health Service, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA in Spanish), in order to achieve a short term authorization for the exportation of organic strawberries.
They informed that this agribusiness has 3,000 acres of berry crops under conventional and organic systems, with international certification and that they are foreseeing the chance of reaching the 5,000 acres through the creation of 4,000 and 800 direct and indirect employments, respectively.
On his behalf, Governor vega pointed out that the State's administration will always promote this type of projects which are focused to giving an added value to agricultural and fishing produce that are obtained thanks to the union of all sectors and authorities.
Enrique Martínez and the State Governor took a tour the facilities of the "Strawberry Valley" complex, where agricultural workers of Berrymex's are staying, in order to crop strawberry from February to June. The facilities have rooms that can accommodate up to 500 day workers, sports courts, a dining room, a shopping mall and a health clinic, with open space, fulfilling the purpose of dignifying the stay of the workers inside this area of high productive potential.
*Newsletter of Baja California's Government
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