"The project with the funds gave us the opportunity to buy another 500 more plants to increase another task, buy more pipes and other accessories to improve the irrigation system, which is the most expensive thing; we bought more than 100 posts, galvanized wire which is also expensive, at more than $100 per 100 pounds. So, it has been a great benefit because in october or november we will have more production", Alejandra explained.

Alejandra began growing corn, beans and bananas in 2015, but since 2019 she decided to start growing loroco with her life partner, because in the canton of El Pimental de San Luis Talpa almost no one was dedicated to the crop. "We bought the first things, my mom gave us a motor pump that we had for irrigation", recalls the producer.

The producer assured that the way of cultivating and the good production of loroco is thanks to the technical advice provided by CENTA extensionists.

"Through technical assistance we maintain their productive activity and they generate other jobs for the management of the loroco production plot, when there is a short crop, more people are hired, which generates a source of employment in the rural area. The purpose is to make it self-sustainable, since when it is at its maximum production the product is quite dynamic because it is cut every eight days", explained José Fernando Contreras, coordinator of the San Luis Talpa Extension Agency.

According to the CENTA technician and the producer, the price of loroco has remained at $1.50 or more per pound during the winter, but the best time to obtain greater profitability is in the summer, when they manage to sell the pound for more than $5, which is why they maintain that the FIDEAGRO funds are timely because it has allowed them to buy more inputs and strengthen the irrigation system.

"The projection is to bring out a production of 50 pounds per week and we hope to increase it. Right now it is at $1.50, in summer (say between february, march, april) it goes up to $5.75, so we sell it ourselves and in the market it has a different price", said Alejandra.

With good management, loroco production ranges between 80 and 100 pounds per plot of one task. Alejandra and her partner work in the production of this salvadoran flower, but they are also joined by four to five other producers, which means that these families are also indirect beneficiaries of FIDEAGRO's seed capital.

Translated by: A.M