Peru's Sierra Exportadora is hoping to plant dozens of hectares of soursop trees this year, amid international demand for the fruit due to its perceived health benefits. 

The company's CEO Alfonso Velásquez Tuesta said he was hoping to begin production of soursop - also know as graviola - in the country's northern Lambayeque and Piura regions.

"With the new alternative crop we are hoping to creat a new business chain in the northern Andean areas of Lambayeque and Piura, where the agricultural industry is gearing up for climate change," Velasquez said.

He said there was currently a strong international demand for the fruit, in part as it was widely promoted as an alternative cancer treatment.

In addition, Velasquez mentioned that beginning commercial production would provide a source a labor for the Andean area.

"Undoubtedly in these areas we need to improve productivity, and we will do that with soursop," he said.

A business strategy will now be put together with the aim of securing funding for the project from agricultural or grower organizations.

According to Velasquez, if the project were to gain the support of the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA), some 50 hectares of soursop trees could be planted in the north of the country.

Sierra Exportadora heads are currently in talks with the INIA to see how the two could cooperate in a mutually beneficial manner and implement the project.

Currently, the main importers of soursop are the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands and Germany.

Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons

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