In European countries, there is great interest in organically grown pomegranate from our region, and the reason is that it has as much as three times more active, nutritious substances than the one that comes from the world’s largest growers, RTS reports.
Serbia could significantly increase the export of organic rose hips, and these days the fruits of that plant, which is suitable for growing, are being harvested.
Chile in South America is currently the world’s largest producer of pomegranates, ie wild roses.
According to RTS, one of the largest growers of organic rose hips in Serbia is Karolj Fekete from Novi Knezevci.
Its plantation covers a total of 50 hectares and it is about young plantations, four years old, and the yield is about one and a half tons per hectare.
All production is intended for export, and is mostly used for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
“These are all varieties that I use, they are enriched with “C” vitamin and pectins are very rich and that is what the processing industry is looking for,” says Karolj Fekete.
The pomegranate is harvested mechanically by a special picker of a field constructor who, in the passage between the rows, removes the fruit from only one side of the plant, and can harvest about two and a half hectares a day.
“We must not go fast and we must not increase the vibration because then it threshes, so then we actually lose many years of production. It is good in the machine that it can move itself,” explains Istvan Fazekas, a tractor driver.
In the organic production of wild roses, there is no fertilization of the soil, use of pesticides, herbicides and irrigation.
“She is grateful for good land, but she also tolerates harsh conditions extremely well, worse types (of land) in the fifth, sixth class. She can give birth extremely well,” points out Karolj Fekete.
European buyers expect a significant increase in this production from Serbia, and the establishment of plantations is stimulated, and seedling material is provided.
The initial investment per hectare is about a thousand euros, Nova Ekonomija reports.
