French farmers are not yet very numerous in producing exotic African fruits and vegetables, but global warming allows certain regions to adapt to the climate…

Africa economy

French farmers embark on exotic African fruits

Audio 02:18

Laurent Dirat, farmer in Tarn-et-Garonne.

In one of his fields, thousands of kiwano plants, a Kenyan cucumber, are lined up.

By: Alexis Bedu Follow

3 mins

French farmers are not yet very numerous in producing exotic African fruits and vegetables, but global warming allows certain regions to adapt to the tropical climate.

This is also of interest to importers for the European market who are diversifying their offers with this new local production.

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This is the story of an Occitan farmer who fell into chili.

When he took over the family business in his small village in Tarn-et-Garonne, Laurent Dirat wanted to diversify.

He stops breeding and develops varieties from other continents that he started to touch very young.

His first chilli harvest under his arm, he goes to Toulouse to meet African and Asian grocers.

That's where I saw, already, that I could sell my product and then above all that I could make other products that they were waiting for.

Not finding seeds, I bought fruits, the ripest ones, I kept the seeds and then I re-sowed the seeds which did not germinate well at the beginning.

And then I did mass selection.

We select our own seeds according to the criteria we want.

So I chose earliness, hardiness and then size.

90% of turnover

Today, his 48 hectares of vegetables represent 90% of his turnover.

In one of his fields, thousands of kiwano plants, a Kenyan cucumber, are lined up.

We raised the ground about 15 centimeters or

so," he says.

“

It doesn't seem like a lot, but in fact, it makes all the difference since the ground here is warm, so the plant will grow very well, rooting will be encouraged.
The goal is for the roots to intersect and exploit the entire surface of the soil

That day, one of Laurent Dirat's customers came to visit the facilities.

Yves Martel is a wholesaler and importer of exotic fruits and vegetables in Europe.

Mango, lime, papaya, bird's tongue pepper, vegetarian pepper, dachine, brède

", he lists.

“

A more ethnic diet

,” emphasizes Yves Martel.

Avoid imports

The climate of the South-West allows the growth of certain products.

Thanks to this local niche production, Yves Martel avoids certain imports.

In particular for the diakhatou from Mali and the agbissan from the Ivory Coast.

To bring in goods, for example from Mali or Côte d'Ivoire, you have to bring in 800-900 kg.

I don't have the capacity to bring in 800-900 kg all at once and then it comes at a time when the cost of production and the cost price is still lower than bringing in my goods by plane. .

Reducing the logistics time between production and sale allows for better freshness and a significant carbon effect.

Local production which remains confidential, possible for fruits and vegetables, with a short vegetative growth, but unrealizable for others such as cassava or yams

Africa economy - French farmers embark on exotic African fruits

French farmers embark on exotic African fruits

90% of turnover

Avoid imports

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