Fruit cultivation area in Chile's northern Atacama region has increased by 3% in the last six years, according to a recent survey by the Office of Agriculture Studies and Policy (ODEPA).

The highest growth was seen for pomegranates with the planted area rising 581% to 200 hectares during the period, while cultivation of the most significant crop grapes rose 3.8%. ODEPA reported olive production area rose just 0.5%.

The Atacama region boasts 79 companies involved in agricultural processing activities, which ODEPA says has boosted value adding in the sector.

ODEPA says a move to the production of olive oil and dehydrated products has pushed up the share of processed fruit up nine percentage points to 19%.

The entity added that irrigation was still a concern and systems needed to be improved.

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