10:09 | Piura (Piura region), Mar. 30.
Piura, one of the most affected regions by heavy rains and floods, will be given priority for reconstruction, said Agriculture Minister Jose Hernandez, who claimed the northern area will rise again.
The state of emergency declared in this region will help bring resources from all over Peru to attend the emergency; once this stage is over, "Piura will be the basis for reconstruction."
"The state of emergency is declared, not only for today, but to ensure high-priority attention and, therefore, move forward. As I've always said, we are going to recover from this; Piura will move forward and rise again, for sure," he told Andina news agency.
Concerning agriculture, rains and floods have affected 250,000 hectares of domestic market-oriented crop production and small farmers on the left bank of Piura River.
This bank is the most affected compared to the one on the right, although damage has been reported in mid-Piura including areas like Tambogrande, San Lorenzo and Morropon.
Crops for agro-exports have not witnessed major damages, since the harvest season has been brought forward.
"The season for grapes, which play an important role in the economy, has already ended; the same occurred with mangoes and a large proportion of lemons. Organic bananas were the most affected; they were collected from Sullana and Morropon, and most of the collections were saved."
Further harm to products has not been caused by rains or floods, but by roadblocks, which hindered their access to markets.
Hernandez explained the situation in Piura has been unusual, because rain started falling along the Coast, and once it reached middle and upper levels, the lower part was already saturated with water.
(END) FHG/RES/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/30/2017