ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT THE OPENING CEREMONY

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus I welcome you all to our Island and to this international Symposium.

On this occasion I express my appreciation to the International Society for Horticultural Science, for organizing the Symposium in association with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and to the Food and Agriculture Organization for sponsoring it and for selecting Nicosia to host the Symposium.

Agriculture has always been an important activity in Cyprus and ever since independence, in 1960, all issues relating to agricultural development were given priority. Our policies and efforts for the development of this vital sector, as well as in the other fields of human life, were severely disrupted in 1974, as a result of the Turkish invasion. However, despite the loss of the most fertile agricultural lands, occupied since 1974, new rainfed lands have by now been turned into irrigated and total agricultural production substantially increased.

Crop production in Cyprus is almost entirely dependent on water availability and comprehensive efforts are pursued to improve agricultural productivity. Among others they include the introduction of new crop varieties with improved technology and irrigation methods, alongside cultural methods. Simultaneously programmes are implemented, in order to achieve the most effective use of all water resources available on the Island. It is worth mentioning that, as a result of water development projects, the total storage capacity of dams constructed since independence rose from 6 million cubic meters in 1960 to about 300 million today.

This allowed for the expansion of the cultivation of subtropical and even some tropical crops as Cyprus, with its typical Mediterranean climate, has proven to be particularly suitable for this purpose.

At the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources we have recognized the importance of growing such crops and we give particular emphasis on both the research and the extension aspects in close cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in order to ensure the marketing of the produce. Concurrently, and in order to achieve high produce quality and protect the environment, strict control is exercised over the import and use of pesticides. For instance, a modern Laboratory for Pesticides Residues analysis has been established and is in operation since 1989.

The most important fruit crops cultivated in Cyprus are citrus trees producing high quality oranges, lemons, grapefruits and mandarins. Citrus production in the whole of the country progressively increased from 56.000 tons in 1960, to 307.000 tons in 1973, and this is prior to the Turkish invasion. The main citrus producing areas of Morphou and Famagusta are now occupied. Citrus are nowadays mostly cultivated in the southwest coast of the Island and in some semi-hilly areas, where mandarins production is concentrated.

The total area under citrus in the free parts of Cyprus was, in 1990, 7.450 ha representing 5,2% of the total cultivated area and about 20% of the total irrigated land, whilst in the same year production reached 200.000 tons.

Cyprus citrus fruits are exported in Europe either as fresh fruits or as processed products and the marketing mechanism is well developed. It should be noted, however, that recent changes in consumer preferences in our major export markets as well as the expansion of citrus production in other regions of the world have caused marketing problems, especially for grapefruits and lemons.

The banana crop is the second important tropical fruit of the country and Cyprus from a net importer has reached a self-sufficient level. The area under cultivation is estimated to 360 ha, with an annual production level of about 12.000 tons.

As regards other tropical and subtropical fruits, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources continues its experimental work in order to achieve the highest possible technical and economic efficiency. The extensive research work undertaken is primarily aimed at increasing yields, improving quality, and reducing production costs, so as to make the produce more competitive and marketable. Such crops are: avocado, mango, dates, papaya, guave, and pecan nuts.

As citrus is an important product for Cyprus, particular research work is undertaken which includes rootstock-scion, variety trials, pest control, irrigation and fertilization experiments, cultural practices, fruit sizing, control of water spot, and post harvest storage.

Tissue culture has a wide scope for expansion and research work in this field has been undertaken with local lemons, mandarins and bananas.

Finally, a programme has been recently undertaken to introduce new fruits and new varieties and relevant trials are in progress with cherimoyas, litchi, persimmons, dates, mangos, papayas, pepinos and longan.


Dear Participants,

The present Symposium, aimed to examine current advances and future prospects concerning a highly important and promising sector of Agricultural and food development, is highly relevant to the needs of all the participating countries. The presence of more than 50 professionals from 12 countries, testifies to its significance. The research persons from the International Society for Horticultural Science, who are here to contribute their expertise and know-how, will assist you to reach the proper conclusions which, I am sure, will facilitate better decision- making on the issues under consideration.

Dear guest, on our part, the Organizing Committee shall do its best to make your stay in our country as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, in the best tradition of the hospitality of our people.

Dear friends, it is with pleasure that I declare the Symposium open.

Thank you.


ISSUES FOR COLLABORATE RESEARCH ON TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUIT PRODUCTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

Dr. U.G. Menini

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Minister of Agriculture, Dignitaries, Distinguished Scientists and Guests, Dear Colleagues and Friends.

To begin with, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Government of Cyprus, to the Departmentof Agriculture of Cyprus, to the Agricultural Research Institute, to the Organizing Committee, and to the International Society for Horticultural Science - for organizing and hosting this important International Symposium on Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruit Research and Development. Iam especially pleased to have the opportunity, also, on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to extend the best wishes and greetings of our Director- General to all participants and organizers.

It is not by chance that FAO is present at this Symposium; in fact, on many occasions in the past FAO has actively participated in other technical meetings held under the auspicesof the International Society for Horticultural Science, in order to contribute towards resolving the production technology constraints that are hampering the development of tropical and sub-tropical fruit crops.

Fruit production has already been confirmed as one of the key activities for improving farmers' earnings and consequently, living standards, in many countries. In addition, the countries which have made progress in research towards upgrading, the productivity and quality of the most common tropical and sub-tropical fruit species, have already achieved recognition and competitivity, in creating outlets on the international market.

These openings, together with increasing demand in industrialized countries, are leadidng to a new type of structure in the commercial horticulture sector, characterized by rising levels of specilaization. In this context, farmers are often ready to make efforts and engage investments in order to obtain an increase in fruit productivity and quality.

In seeking therefore, additional, viable strategies, we may think about what could bedone to revalorise agricultural activities in the Mediterranean Basin, aiming at diversificationthrough the introduction of adapted, new, tropical and sub-tropical perennial crops, whenever these can improve farmers' earnings significantly. In this regard, tree crops such as avocado, annona, mango, papaya, banana, guava, passion fruit, prickly pear, lime, pecans etc. - to list only a few - appear tp respond very well to the needs of such programmes, as they fit in with the agricultural aptitude ofcertain specific meso-climates.

Although the market demand for exotic tropical and subtropical fruit is, in general, still considerable, consumers are probably discouraged by the high prices prevailing. At the same time, growers may not perceive sufficient incentive, due to the high production costs, which are largely related to the purchase of plants and to high labour costs, particularly for harvesting. Only when production costs may be significantly reduces will it be possible to effectively promote these types of crops under intensive systems.

To be more specific for the Mediterranean Basin, there is an increasing awareness about the emphasis which needs to be given to the development of tropical and sub-tropical fruit crop production development. In fact, within their production development and agricultural diversification policies, several Governments of the North Africa and Near East regions are already giving cobnsideration to the promotion of fruit crops for gaining foreign exchange earnings.

Nevertheless, whilst a few Mediterranean countries have achieved notable progress on sub-tropical fruits, typically tropical fruits still remain comparatively neglected, and more investments in this sector are required. The research and development infrastructures which exist tend to be mainly geared to major sub-tropical fruit crops (citrus and others) and even for these crops, a lot of technical problems still remain unsolved. Production technologies for promising tropical and sub-tropical fruit species that could be grown in the Mediterranean Basin have yet to be fully defined, and in many cases, are tending to be developed by enterprising producers rather than as a direct result of programmed research undertakings.

If we now consider recent trends in fruit production development in tropical areas, we note that in many microclimates which are suitable for temperate-zone fruit production, temperate fruit crops are being developed in pursuance of the same market criteria that are presently attracting farmers in warm temperate or subtropical zones to grow tropical fruits. In fact, it seems that the deeper we go into studying so-called temperate, subtropical and tropical fruit species and their behaviour in habitats different from their traditional ones, the harder it becomes to maintain a technical distinction between these three categories. Accordingly, the geographic and climatic limits to their cultivation are being continually redefined.

Many growers may be led to hope, nonetheless, that the results obtained in the field of research are already sufficient to launch them into the production of exotic fruit species, without perhaps considering that, from the technical point of view, this may still constitute something of an adventure filled with risks. Up to a certain point perhaps, the information becoming available - particularly in relation to variety adaptability and growing technologies that are in constant evolution - may be able to provide the key to the feasibility of such undertakings. On the other hand though, when we look at crop performance in terms of productivity and quality, we immediately realise that much of the basic technical information relative to specialized technologies and cropping systems for tropical or subtropical fruits in the Mediterranean region, which would be necessary to permit growers to obtain satisfactory results (as compared with the performance of their traditional crops), is still unavailable.

This said, we must also acknowledge that very little is known about all the different phenomena which these plants manifest when cultivated outside their normal habitats. Therefore, if crop specialization is to be pursued, it will be necessary to be in possession of great deal more information related to the biological and physiological behaviour of climats level.

As an example, a few of the factors in which the Mediterranean climate differes significantly from that of the tropical crops' normal habitat could be briefly indicated as follows:

• the sufficient length of the warm season for completing the fruit maturation cycle to achieve high fruit quality and for uniform harvesting;
• in South Mediterranean coastal areas - although heat requirements may be partially satisfied, non-uniform temperatures over the year, as well as high and low temperature extremes (frost, etc.) and peculiar metereological phenomena such as hail, snow or hot dry winds, may negatively influence vegetative growth, reproductive behaviour, and fruit development;
• under certain climatic conditions, particularly in north-facing sites where low temperatures may favour long vegetative rest, growth may be completely interrupted and fruit may not be cropped.

Research in the area of applied bioclimatology certainly needs to be strengthened in order to gain a thorough understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying these phenomena, and consequently to be able to develop more precise technologies for protecting crop plants and for manipulating their behaviour. This is made difficult by the fact that, still today, this particular school of research is very weak.

In addition, the modernization of propagation systems, utilizing softwood and micropropagation technologies whenever appropriate, as well as the strengthening of nursery management, are essential, and important investments are required in this field if certified plants of superior tropical and sub-tropical fruit varieties are to be produced at low cost in the Mediterranean region.

As a word of caution, it needs to be underlined that even though we may succeed in obtaining satisfactory crop performance of certain exotic fruit species in the region of concern, we must be very careful to see that the quality of the produce and its organoleptic characteristics correspond to the expectations and requirements of consumers. How many of us have bought mangos or papaya in north European markets, only to be greatly disappointed to discover that the taste was nondescript, and certainly not corresponding to the fruits' deceivingly attractive external appearance? It may indeed be a possibility that the high level of fruit quality which is the prerogative of humid and sub-humid tropical regions could never, in reality, be readily obtained under open-field conditions in the Mediterranean basin.

It should be recalled, however, that agricultural research institutions in several countries of the tropics have already found, independently, many viable answers to the problem of dwindling agricultural activity - based on the systematic cultivation of adapted tropical fruit species. We feel that it could be most useful now to collate our knowledge of these positive experiences with a view to transferring the technology (with the necessary adaptions) to other regions where agriculture is in need of diversification and improvement. This could be even more impressive since it might well be one of the first significant manifestations of "South to North" technology transfer. It follows that to spread this experience effectively, we need to consider development strategies (not only at the country or sub-regional level, through exercises like this workshop) but also on an inter-regional scale, by establishing policies and concrete programmes for intergovernmental cooperation.

Nevertheless, the future of promising tropical and sub-tropical fruits - if it is intended that they should become an important item of commerce - will depend to a great extent on the work to be done by scientists towards overcoming the technical constraints mentioned previously.

Since most of these problems are common to many countries, the need to facilitate communication among national institutions is becoming evident. In this regard, perhaps inter-country networking could be a feasible instrument to facilitate mutual exchange of research information and improved planting material, to make better use of the advances made in individual countries in terms of definition of modern fruit growing technologies, or even to elaborate more comprehensive development strategies in relation to production and trade intelligence.

Through such an inter-country exercise, based on voluntary participation, useful activites could be promoted in the following key areas, as an example:

• a global information network in collaboration with national research institutions;
• a survey of production potential and plans for development actions;
• internationally coordinated collections of selected and improved cultivars (in collaboration with national research centres);
• a list of improved cultivars recommended to be grown under various local conditions together with guidelines for improved production and protection techniques to be followed;
• development of sound standards for post-harvest operations which could be used within the countries and to meet eventual specific export requirements.

In conclusion, the progress achieved and the results already obtained in Cyprus in the production of promising tropical and sub-tropical fruit crops, in order to be even more competitive in the european market in particular, could be taken as an example to be followed.

Before ending, I would like to express, once again, the best wishes of the FAO to all those present, and my personal thanks to the Government of Cyprus for inviting me to this beautiful island, to which I am also, sentimentally, very attached.


ADDRESS BY DR. VICTOR GALAN SAUCO VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE ISHS COMMISSION OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL HORTICULTURE

As Vice Chairman of the ISHS Commission of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture and as a specialist in tropical fruit crops, I would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources for inviting me to participate in this International Symposium on Current Development in Mediterranean Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Production and Research as well as for giving me the opportunity to deliver this welcome address. Let me also thank you all for being present today.

Throughout my professional career I have attended several meetings in the Mediterranean and as researcher in Spain for the last 20-odd years I have seen tropical fruits such as avocado, cherimoys, macadamia, mango, banana, and litchi are successful crops in the Mediterranean, coexisting with the more ancient citrus, date, caki and loquat orchards. Research particularly on selection and evaluation of rootstocks and cultivars, as well as on propagation and cultural practices, has been so successful that the current main constraint for many of these fruit crops is not their production but rather their marketing.

I am sure that the contributions both from aboard - people from 9 countries are present - and from Cyprus itself, will constitute further progress and make our attendance profitable from a scientific point of view as well as amply rewarding the Organizers for the time and effort invested in bringing us together with the traditional "philoxenia" of this Region.

On behalf of the ISHS which I officially represent at this meeting, I welcome and encourage you to continue working on these important crops with the keen interest you have in the past dedicated to them.

Thank you very much.

Victor Galan Sauco