New irrigation techniques could help Peru rise to top in agro-exports

Peru is poised to become a global power in agricultural exports through government's further investments in high-tech irrigation works, the bolstering of private investment and the expansion of the nationwide network connectivity.

The country's Prime Minister Rene Cornejo stressed Peru stands out worldwide as a top exporter of widely sought-after products in the agriculture sector which are produced in thousands of hectares along the coastal regions.

"This promising outlook encourages us to access major international markets," said Cornejo, who also heads the 19-member Peruvian council of Ministers.

"Likewise, the Ollanta Humala administration is launching a new strategy for agricultural food security with the aim of reducing hunger and poverty in the Andean nation," he said addressing the June 24 ceremony of the National Farmers' Day.

The Executive branch is committed to boosting the country's agriculture productivity through a massive infrastructure investment plan in irrigation and road infrastructure as well as by an improved access to credit for small-scale farmers living in Peru's hinterlands.

"The state-run program Mi Riego is undertaking works of canals, reservoirs and dams, which can extend the time within which the land can be exploited, thus giving higher productivity," the top-level Peru government official noted.

In pursuing this aim, Cornejo stated, the Peruvian government has allocated 1.2 billion soles (US$ 428.1 million) for the social program mentioned earlier as the agriculture sector represents a quarter of the country's GDP.

Likewise, the Prime Minister stressed this program is accompanied by the construction of roads and communications, as well as credit support from the Agricultural Bank (Agrobanco), among others.

Meanwhile, the head of Peru's Administration, Ollanta Humala, announced Tuesday the country is actively returning land to agricultural use and it is investing in technologies and infrastructure to support grain exports.

Source

Media

Taxonomy

• Agribusiness
• Irrigation
• Water Governance