Peach palm - World Agroforestry Centre

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6 2 Peach palm. Bactris gasipaes Kunth other products. Although these profits may appear small, most farmers currently cultivate only 20-50 peach palms in their agroforestry systems, but could produce much more with improved agroforestry systems and germplasm. Farmers around Pucallpa would like to produce more peach palm fruit for sale, but most of them do not have access to the preferred spineless germplasm (Brodie et al. 1997). Those who do have spineless peach palm are expanding their own production, and distributing the seed to neighbours who also want to increase production. ICRAF concluded from this research that peach palm should be the top-priority agroforestry species for its genetic improvement programme in the Peruvian Amazon Basin. This means that ICRAF will dedicate much of its research and development efforts in the Amazon Basin to agroforestry systems centred around peach palm, and actively seek additional international donor funding to promote development of these production systems. The national and international gourmet markets for hearts from cultivated peach palm are growing (Villachica 1996), and some countries are expanding production in anticipation of continued market development (notably Costa Rica and Brazil). While significant for future economic development, this may benefit only the large-scale farmers in many regions, unless farm credit policies are liberalized. In relatively poor regions with undeveloped infrastructures, such as the Peruvian Amazon Basin, farmers may prefer to produce the fruit rather than heart-of-palm because of food security concerns (C. Sotelo-Montes and J.C. Weber, unpublished data; R. Labarta-Chavarri and J.C. Weber, unpublished data; Brodie et al. 1997). While this situation may be true in a large portion of the Amazon Basin, it is not the case in Central America. In Costa Rica, small-scale farmers produce most of the fruit and heart-of-palm and their new success is inducing them to get organized into associations for better marketing and to install their own industrial plants.
Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 20. 63 12 Future research needs There is a need for considerable basic and applied research to manage and effectively use peach palm’s genetic resources. Since peach palm is not yet a major crop, attention should focus initially on industrialization, marketing and the socioeconomics of production systems. Modern agro-industry requires high product quality and uniformity; marketing, in turn, depends on having a quality product to sell; this is especially true for fruit products. Research needs are listed below, arranged in order of general priorities, although different national or institutional programmes may have different specific priorities. Industrialization, marketing and socioeconomics of production systems • Develop market intelligence to estimate supply and potential demand for peach palm products, and develop strategies to stimulate market demand for these products. • Improve the quality of existing processed products, and develop alternative processing approaches for new high-quality products. • Improve post-harvest handling methods to extend the shelf-life of fresh fruit and heart-of-palm. Appropriate methods should be developed for the range of producers (e.g. small-scale farmers, cooperatives, large commercial enterprises). • Evaluate fruit and heart-of-palm production in plantation systems and in traditional agroforestry systems, and model the socioeconomic and market factors that affect farmers’ decisions to adopt more extensive production systems. • Determine: (1) how farmers manage peach palm germplasm, (2) the movement of germplasm within and among communities and regions, and (3) current and projected supply and demand for improved germplasm at the farm, community and regional levels. Vegetative propagation and seed physiology • Improve methods for: (1) vegetative propagation of offshoots, (2) meristem tissue culture, and (3) successful establishment of asexually produced plants in the field. • Evaluate growth and yield of asexually produced plants, compared with sexually produced plants. • Improve methods to control seed dormancy for long-term seed storage, and for more rapid and uniform germination. Pest management, agronomy and crop physiology • Develop integrated pest management programmes for fruit and heart-of-palm production in plantations and in traditional agroforestry systems.
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Peach palm - World Agroforestry Centre

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