Marketing margins for the cultivation of pitaha-ya (Selenicereus undatus) for its sustainable development in Belize

Abstract

Objective: To determine the marketing margins and direct participation of the pitahaya producer in Belize for the sustainable development of the crop.
Design/methodology/approach: Information was obtained between October and December 2022, through the implementation of participatory workshops with producers and members of the pitahaya production chain in the Cayo and Orange Wolk districts, Belize.
Results: The participating agents in the pitahaya marketing process are producer-consumer (100%). The gross marketing margin was 40 %, which indicated that for every peso paid by pitahaya consumers, 40 cents corresponded to the intermediation process and 60 cents went to the producer.
Limitations of the study/implications: It is important to conduct an in-depth market analysis.
Findings/conclusions: Pitahaya cultivation is incipient in Belize, but has high potential due to the country's climatic conditions. The marketing channel used is producer-consumer. Belizean producers obtained 60% of the total price paid by the consumer.