CURRENT STATUS OF PEACH PALM CROP (Bactris gasipaes) IN THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI, PANAMA

Abstract

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), is a crop appreciated for the nutritional content of its fruits, as well as for obtaining palm hearts. However, in recent years, the production of this fruits have decreased in Panama, leaving domestic demand unsatisfied. The lowlands of Chiriqui have suitable agroclimatic conditions for the development of this palm tree, therefore, the objective of this study was to know the current status of the peach palm in the Province of Chiriqui, Panama. For this, the locations of Gomez, Porton, Alto Jacu, San Pedro, Bugabita, La Estrella, Siogui Arriba and El Santo were visited. A total of 20 farm owners were interviewed about social, economic and technical-environmental aspects related to the crop. According to the results, 55% of the interviewees were male, with a predominant age range between 61 - 75 years and basic services were complete in 30% of the cases. About 50% of the producers have property title, with farmlands of ​​less than one hectare in 50% of the cases; the average age of the peach palm plants exceeds 25 years and they are located in backyard orchards without agronomic management in 50% of the cases. During the 2019-2020 harvest, 40% of the owners stated that they had not obtained any yield and in the cases that there was some production, it did not exceed five bunches per palm tree. About 65% of those surveyed attributed the fruit damage to insects, 35% to blue-headed parrot Pionus menstruus (L.) and squirrels; while 25% mentioned the death of palm trees by fungi. Only 10% mentioned having been trained in other topics. In conclusion, peach palm crop in Chiriqui requires an agrotechnological reinforcement to recover areas with this fruit tree, aimed to the diversification and sustainable use of the agroecosystem.