Peru's farming sector would grow more than 4% in 2018 following productive infrastructure investments and other boosting measures, Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Jose Manuel Hernandez projected.
The government official noted investment required to rehabilitate hydraulic infrastructure and productive capacity of farmers affected by recent "Coastal El Niño" disasters stands at S/256 million (about US$78.87 million).
Peru was recently hit by said weather phenomenon, which triggered torrential rains, floods and landslides that resulted in damages of around 1% of GDP.
"Next year we would be in conditions not only to overcome the current situation, but also to beat the 4% growth target. That is precisely what we are working on," he told El Peruano official gazette.
While part of the Inca nation's agricultural production was affected by the said disasters, farming sub-sectors that were not impacted will boost the sector as a whole.
"Non-traditional exports increased close to 7% in the first quarter [of 2017], which allows us to foresee positive farming growth by the end of the year," he noted.
Boosting activities
Hernandez also addressed other activities to boost farming production, such as new pasture areas in South-Andean regions.
These will supplement existing pasture lands to further develop local livestock.
"We created the General Livestock Management section last year, and we are actively working [on that]," he pointed out.
Similarly, the Agriculture head highlighted Sierra Azul ("Blue Highlands") water seeding and harvesting program, already launched in Huancavelica and Ayacucho regions.
As for specific crops, the ministry is working on pomegranate growing in agricultural experiment stations. Other products include raspberries, "which could take off like [Peruvian] blueberries" and avocados, "another potential leap."
In addition, the Ministry supports a large number of producers in growing organic quinoa.
"We need to keep working on this. We are also researching and supporting maca businesses, and we must resume —and top— their export levels with small-scale farming," he said.