Víctor Maita: “Bonus for the purchase of fertilizers will range between S / 350 and S / 1,300”

The head of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), Víctor Maita, details the bonds aimed at subsidizing the purchase of fertilizers and a feasibility report for a fertilizer plant in Piura.

The agricultural sector is one of the hardest hit today.

We are experiencing an international agrarian crisis due to fertilizers, something that we have been saying for a long time. When we arrived, this situation was already there. For this reason, since September we have implemented specific actions and measures, such as the launch of a national campaign to support family farming with the use of alternative fertilizers, say island guano and chicken manure, in 12 regions, including Huancavelica, Junín, Ayacucho, Puno and Arequipa. However, it is not enough, as we consume around a million tons of fertilizers among all our farmers.

What to do then?

Today we have agreed, at the Executive level, two measures to support farmers. The first is a direct economic support of a productive bonus of S / 350 for farmers with one to two hectares. We are going to do this through the platforms of the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (Midis), with which we would be benefiting 150,000 farmers with a budget of S / 52 million. A second measure consists of the economic subsidy for those who have two to ten hectares, depending on the expense they make, with an economic subsidy that will range between S / 350 and S / 1300. This delivery, which will be made only once , will be channeled from December through an emergency decree.

What requirements must farmers meet?

Farmers must prove that they have made a purchase of fertilizers for at least S / 350 and show proof of payment, either in tickets or invoices, that correspond to the current agricultural season. That is, ballots that run from August 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. The campaign ends in July, but will only be accepted until March. They must also be registered in the Midagri registry; Those who are not, can approach the agricultural agencies that we have in the jurisdictions of each regional government.

And how to solve the problem of lack of fertilizers while this is landing?

We have already signed an agreement with the Bolivian Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy for the promotion and commercialization of urea. Our brother country has a fertilizer plant and we are channeling the dialogue so that they can make the sale to us through our organizations and unions. We have met twice with the Bolivian ambassador and a formal request for urea has been made through the Foreign Ministry. They tell us that they do have stock to sell to us, although not in the amount we require, unfortunately. We hope that this purchase can be completed in the coming months.

How much could that purchase cost Peru?

We have not yet reached that negotiation. We are asking for 50,000 tons and, based on that, they will confirm, surely, how much that price could be agreed upon.

Wouldn’t it be better to have your own production plant?

We have already taken action on it. We have the Bayóvar phosphates in Piura, and we are interested in taking advantage of their deposits. To date, we have the resources to study the economic viability of a fertilizer plant, in the preparation of which institutions such as FAO and IDB are cooperating. We could have the report ready in the first quarter of next year. It is a work hand in hand with the ministries of Energy and Mines and of Production, which must also intervene in this task. ❖