Andina

Peru's farming sector up despite Coastal El Niño

Alrededor de 280,000 agricultores de la región La Libertad, representados a través de las Juntas de Usuarios de Agua, decidieron agruparse como Asociación de Usuarios de Agua de La Libertad, alejándose de la ya conocida Junta de Nacional de Juntas de Usuarios con sede en Lima.

Alrededor de 280,000 agricultores de la región La Libertad, representados a través de las Juntas de Usuarios de Agua, decidieron agruparse como Asociación de Usuarios de Agua de La Libertad, alejándose de la ya conocida Junta de Nacional de Juntas de Usuarios con sede en Lima.

09:08 | Lima, Aug. 20.

Farming sector saw a 6.40% growth in June, despite "Coastal El Niño" impacts in northern regions earlier this year, Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Jose Hernandez informed Saturday.

Agriculture has been affected by a series of disasters since last year, ranging from forest fires all over the territory to droughts in southern Peru a few months later. Afterwards, summer brought Coastal El Niño phenomenon.

Nevertheless, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) said farming rose 6.40% in June, underpinned by higher agricultural production (10.22%), although livestock contracted 1.79%.

As per agriculture products, hard yellow corn (+30.04%), coffee (+13.6%), potatoes (+10.7%) and paddy rice (+10.0%) stood out among the rest. 

On the other hand, livestock (goat, sheep, poultry and cattle) saw negative results due to Coastal El Niño. 

Agro-exports go up

Hernandez highlighted steps taken by his administration to mitigate weather calamities.

Said actions helped crops rebound and led to a 10% increase in agro-exports during the first half of 2017, over the same period a year earlier.

(END) RMB/MVB

Published: 8/20/2017