Food production in agricultural fields falls 50%

He climate change affected agricultural production in the region Arequipa in its first months. The frosts in the mountains caused the loss of fodder for hundreds of farmers, food for their camelids. While the heat decreased production in coastal valleys. The regional manager of Agriculture of the Regional Government of Arequipa (GRA), Jose Paredesheld thatn 50% decreased crop yields, especially potatoes and onions. “The heat in the valleys made the growth of the tubers germinate very quickly,” she explained.

In the case of the onion the yield per hectare was between 50 to 40 tons and was reduced to less than 30. The official denied that there is a shortage of products from other regions that arrive in Arequipa. What he did acknowledge is an increase in prices. “The onion is costing 4 soles, with Arequipa being one of the largest producers,” he said. In the case of potatoes, the seed rose to S/3.50 and the kilo is S/2.50.

Faced with the loss of forage in the sierra, he will reunite with his peers Puno, Cusco and Apurimac to find solutions, such as the joint purchase of bales.

About the forecasts of the phenomenon of The boy, Paredes indicated that they will wait for August, when the big season harvests begin, to make estimates. The Agricultural Society of Arequipa has already predicted losses of 50% due to lack of rain.

In the region Fist, Sixto Flores In charge of Senamhi, he reported that there will be a deficit of downpours between July 2023 and March 2024.

“The impacts will be important because it is a period of planting and harvesting, and it will have repercussions,” he said. He explained that in the 2022-2023 agricultural year, a rainfall deficit of 40% was recorded, and he did not rule out that the same scenario could be replicated in the next campaign. This will have repercussions in the low production of grains and the increase in the cost of Andean products such as potatoes, quinoa and others.