SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 12 May. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife, through the public agro-biotechnology company Cultesa, has expanded its banana plant hardening service this year to guarantee supply in the face of the increase in reserves of farmers in La Palma, whose crops were affected by the volcanic eruption of 2021.
The island councilor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Javier Parrilla, reported that, at the moment, there is already a reserve “of more than 900,000 plants of different varieties, mainly in pots, which means 47 percent more with compared to the annual production of 2021”.
Javier Parilla assured that, through Cultesa, “the necessary plants will be produced to cover the entire demand of La Palma”, so “the reserve for palm producers is guaranteed”. He added that in the event that finally they could not acquire them, the Cabildo will assume the production costs or look for new clients, “because what is involved is to guarantee supply, to support our proposals with facts and, above all, to place trust in the farmer”.
Last year, Cultesa launched the first banana hardening farm in the western part of the island, specifically in Guía de Isora, in order to help producers in this area. It is an extension of 10,000 square meters that was in a situation of abandonment and where several varieties of banana trees have now been planted to facilitate the maturity of the plants before being distributed.
Dedicated to the production of plants through in vitro multiplication techniques, Cultesa has produced more than 22 million plants, with an average annual production close to one million. In this way, it has become a reference company that provides biotechnological solutions and personalized technical advice, in order to promote the productivity and competitiveness of the primary sector of the islands through technology transfer, R+D+i and the production of plants with health guarantee, high quality and performance.
Likewise, it is the only Canarian company that has, since 2003, the Title of Breeder Producer of Seed Potato, granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
