Peruvian farming sector grew 3.7% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year, thus maintaining its upward pace, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) said on Thursday.
Midagri explained that the increase in farming was attributable to higher production of the agricultural (4.3%) and livestock (2.8%) subsectors, which contributed to the recovery of the countryside and the supply of food to the markets.
For example, the government agency explained that the agricultural subsector recorded an increase of 4.3%.
This gain was mainly driven by higher production of blueberries (+120%; due to larger surface areas for production in La Libertad, Lima, and Lambayeque), and tangerines (+22.9%; due to a larger surface area for production in Lima).
In addition, the increase was also attributable to higher production of oil palm (+11.7%; due to larger surface areas for production in San Martin and Ucayali), and grapes (+10%; due to larger surface areas for production in Ica, Lima, and Piura).
Also of note was the increase in banana crops (+7.7%; due to greater production in Piura, Loreto, and San Martin), hard yellow corn (+6.1%; due to larger planted and harvested areas in Piura, San Martin, and Madre de Dios), potatoes (+5.9 %, due to greater production in Huanuco, Ayacucho, and Ancash), and mangoes (+5.6%; due to greater production in Piura, Ancash, and Lima), among others.
Meanwhile, the first quarter's growth in the livestock subsector was mainly due to increased production of chicken (+4.3%; due to greater placement of chicks for meat production in Lima, Arequipa, and La Libertad), and pork (+3.7%; due to an increase in cattle numbers in La Libertad, Lima, and Ica).
This gain was also driven by raw cow's milk (+1.3%; due to an increase in the number of cows used for its production in La Libertad, Cusco, and Ica), and chicken eggs (+1%; due to a greater number of laying hens in La Libertad , Ica, and Arequipa).
(END) NDP/SDD/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/5/2022