Board of water users demands machinery and budget

Yesterday, dozens of leaders of the water user boards from different parts of the country gathered outside the premises of the National Water Authority (ANA) to announce a national strike due to the inefficiency of its authorities. They pointed out that in the midst of a state of emergency, in 18 regions of the country due to the heavy rains and in the face of the arrival of the El Niño phenomenon, no work has been done hand in hand with farmers for the provision of heavy machinery and budget.

In addition, they asked the head of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) to step aside and the president Dina Boluarte, the total reorganization of the ANA.

“We need the government not only talk, but execute. We have already suffered from natural phenomena, the destruction of rivers, irrigation canals and cultivated fields. Now, different pests are affecting crops due to climate change. Sno water, no food safety”, specified Pedro Orellana, president of the National Board of Water User Organizations of Peru (JNOUP), to the Republic.

The leader added that, in the case of potato planting, 80% is being lost and the same is true of other crops. Farmers do not have insurance to compensate for losses and, as for the bonds granted by the Government, they have only had a coverage of 2% of the entire universe identified by the agrarian agency.

Hours later, ANA reported that, in a meeting with the leaders, an act of commitment was signedwhere it is highlighted that they will promote their participation in the formulation of the regulation of Law No. 31801. Likewise, meetings will be promoted with this sector to collect their problems.

The data

Prevention. By 2022, there is an agricultural area of 7.2 million hectaresof which approximately one 70% is not insuredaccording to Midagri.