Pacific Ag has been involved with many successful agricultural
extension projects in a variety of developing countries. Some recent
projects include strawberry and vegetable production in the arid regions
of Mexico, small fruit production in tropical Mexico and Central America,
and western vegetable and fruit production technology transfer in India.
While these projects have been ultimately funded by both public and
private sectors, during the initiation stages Pacific Ag operates
at no cost to the end user. In India, for example, small villages on
the outskirts of major population centers are being shown how to produce
high-cash crops such as lettuce, broccoli, celery, and strawberries.
Formerly steeped in traditional wheat production, these villages profited
little from the sale of their crops. Our efforts to train the skilled laborer to produce higher value
crops results in higher wages for the benefit of the Indian economy
overall.
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Pacific
Ag's new crop feasibility outreach program is challenging yet highly rewarding. The challenge comes
from matching crop environmental requisites with local micro-climates.
Strawberries, for example, may be grown in equatorial regions providing
plantings are located at high elevations where evenings are cool and
daytime temperatures not limiting to quality fruit production. Other
sensitive crops such as leaf lettuce and celery, wine and table grapes,
and small berry crops such as raspberry and blueberry - all require
specific environmental conditions for successful production. The crop
experts at Pacific Ag have first-hand knowledge of field conditions
and growing techniques from over 30 years of farming experience with North
American growing technology. In addition to our technological contributions,
our Indian operations emphasize sustainable agriculture and technologies
appropriate to Indian culture.
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