Honduran Exports of Cucumber and Butternut
Squash Increase $2.5 Million in 2002
La Lima, Honduras (May 18, 2002) - As the 2001/2002
cucumber and squash season winds down in Honduras, reports
from Fintrac CDA clients indicate significant increases this
year in yields and exports as a result of new investment and
improved production and postharvest practices. Cucumber
exports for the 2001/2002 season reached an all time high of
$7.37 million, up $1.76 million (32 percent) from $5.6 million
for the 2000/2001 season. Butternut squash exports for the
2001/2002 season were $1.82 million, up $0.73 million (67
percent) from $ 1.09 million for the previous season. The
combined increase in new export earnings for these two crops
was $2.5 million, meeting Fintrac CDA targets.
These sales results were obtained despite a reduction in
cucumber market prices. Average prices for this season were
$2.00/carton lower than the previous season due to market
conditions. Lower market prices were offset by increased
yields. As a result of improved production practices and new
hybrids, the average cucumber yields this season increased by
19 percent over the previous season. Honduras was the only
foreign supplier to record an increase in cucumber exports to
the US during the 2002 season - Mexican exports to the US
decreased 24 percent, with even more dramatic decreases
recorded by the Dominican Republic (40 percent) and Guatemala
(78 percent).
Cucumbers and squash are two of the selected nontraditional
export crops that the Fintrac CDA project has been supporting
during the present and past seasons. Technical support to the
growers and exporters has been ongoing since the project began
in February 2000. New grower/exporters have also entered the
business over the last two years. Activities are presently
centered around five medium-sized growers/exporters with
twenty small outgrowers.
Fintrac CDA production specialists have been providing
technical assistance and training throughout the entire
production, harvesting and packing processes to all of the
export companies for both cucumber and squash. This has
covered technical support, information and problem resolution,
together with the implementation of new production
technologies and practices that have helped the companies
improve yields and product quality. Some of the specific
activities carried out with these producers and exporters have
included integrated pest management practices, land
preparation, harvesting practices and equipment, food safety
and process flow improvements. In addition, Fintrac CDA
marketing specialists tracked prices and volumes for these
crops in the US market on a weekly basis and distributed this
information to all exporters.
Activities and infrastructure improvements made in 2000 and
2001 have resulted in excellent investment returns. Cold room
expansion with an existing producer/exporter and packhouse
construction for a new grower group have contributed to more
than $1.43 million in new exports since the 2000 season.
Fintrac CDA invested $29,000 in this infrastructure with the
clients contributing $22,600. This packhouse also enabled
first time exports by eight growers in the region of El Sifon
in Comayagua.
The return on investments that were cost shared with the
two lead partners in 2000 has been impressive. The coldroom
investment expanded packing capacity from 45 containers/week
to 70 containers per week. This allowed the company to
increase its area from 70 hectares during the 1999-2000 season
to 125 hectares for the present 2001-2002 season, a 79 percent
increase. Productivity for the same period increased 106
percent from 145,000 cartons to 299,300 cartons. Gross sales
increased from $1.6 million in 1999-2000 to $1.87 million in
2000-2001 to $2.77 million for the present season, a $1.17
million sales increase for the two-year period - and a $900
thousand increase from the previous season.
\The investment in a new packhouse for the independent
growers in El Sifon resulted in gross sales of $196,000 (14
containers of cucumbers) and net earnings of $84,750 for their
first season (2000-2001). For the present season, these
growers increased their area from 14 hectares to 21 hectares
and their exports from 14 containers to 24 containers. Gross
sales increased from $196,000 to $259,000.
Fintrac CDA also set targets focused on increasing
productivity in the fields. Technical assistance was provided
on a weekly basis both during the season and off-season with
alternative crops for rotation. Technical representatives
worked with all of the cucumber
and squash producers on implementing new production
practices. Cucumber yields increased by 19 percent from 1,423
to 1,692 exportable cartons/hectare; squash yields increased
by 3.4 percent from 1,093 to 1,131 exportable cartons/hectare.
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