Farmer from Jundiaí uses guava production technique all year round

A producer from Jundiaí uses a technique capable of guaranteeing guava production practically all year round, in addition to facilitating the handling of the fruit. Using the espalier training system, traditional for growing grapes, producer Henrique Losqui, from the Corrupira neighborhood, maintains 3.000 plants of Thai guava.

In this system, the guava trees are supported by a stretched wire and suspended by posts. “One of the advantages is that, with efficient pruning after harvest, we can have guava almost the entire year. In addition, ease of handling, because several processes, including spraying, mowing and cleaning the land, can all be done with machines. Not to mention the safety and ease of harvesting, as the plants are low”, says the producer.

“This technique of planting guava in espaliers, which began and was developed by us here in Jundiaí, spread throughout the country”, reinforces fruit growing researcher and rural producer, Roberto Loschi. In Jundiaí, currently, 13 producers produce guava. According to the Census Survey of Agricultural Production Units (Lupa), the city has approximately 11 hectares of production.

Despite the espalier technique, traditional production, in orchards, is the most developed in the city. “Guava has established itself as a second crop option, that is, diversification for some farmers. It is a fruit that has a good outlet for direct sale in municipal programs such as Producer in the Square and Circuito das Frutas nos Terminals and also in wholesalers and supermarkets”, says engineer Sérgio Pompermaier, from the Agribusiness, Supply and Tourism Unit (Ugaat), of Jundiaí City Hall.

Fruit production in the city is monitored by Ugaat through various farmer promotion programs.

The main fruit harvest is concentrated between early spring and summer. However, with the advancement of pruning, irrigation and fertilization management techniques, it is possible to have a harvest practically all year round, even in the traditional system. “One of the characteristics of agribusiness in Jundiaí is the production of fruit on small properties. That's why we have created programs to promote agribusiness and protect rural producers, such as Cultivo Protetido and Proaj, which help farmers to settle on the land”, says Agribusiness Director, Isabel Harder.

“With the cultivation of guava, Jundiaí reinforces the tradition and consolidation of fruit growing. Diversification in fruit production is already a reality in the municipality and guava has great growth potential, as it suffers very little from seasonality”, details Ugaat manager, Eduardo Alvarez.