Revered as “the food of the gods” for its flavor and nutrients, cocoa is traditionally one of the main sources of income for farmers in the region. Peruvian Amazone. However, now this crop faces several challenges that directly threaten its commercialization and production.
Between January and May of this year, 62,164 tons of cocoa have been produced in Peru. The volume is 9.33% lower than the 68,563 tons produced in the same period of the previous year. Specifically, only in the fifth month of the year, the production of this grain decreased 19.04% to 16,728 tons. This is due to lower production in the regions of Ucayali, San Martín and Ayacucho, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri).
According to Anaximander Rojas, president of the Peruvian Association of Cocoa Producers (APPCACAO), this situation could be repeated in the coming months, as the sector faces a scenario of global uncertainty due to various factors, including the impact of the climate change that has caused droughts and irregular rains in the plantations.
“A decrease in production worldwide is expected due to the higher incidence of pests and droughts in some parts of the world and intense rains in others”, he mentions.
Importance. Cocoa production involves more than 100,000 families in 14 regions of the country. Photo: diffusion
These forecasts are shared by Nelia Soto Arroyo, president of the Sumaq Sunqu Association of Agricultural and Organic Producers, who points out that droughts are affecting the rate of cocoa production, mainly in dryland plantations; that is, they do not have access to irrigation.
Currently, to face this situation, some farmers They use banana irrigation techniques, placing pieces of banana trunks in the cacaos to nourish the plants and provide water, says Soto Arroyo.
EU regulation
Peruvian cocoa currently reaches 70 markets worldwide, the most important destinations being the United States and the countries of the European Union.
However, it is in the European market where the peruvian cocoa faces a major challenge. As of 2025, it will be necessary to demonstrate that this product comes from areas free of deforestation.
Luis Mendoza, general manager of APPCACAO, highlights the importance of Peru addressing as a priority the adaptation to this regulation. According to Mendoza, the country has approximately 14 months to meet the established requirements.
Among the requirements, he mentions that there is the georeferencing of farmers’ plots, as well as the traceability of the product; that is to say, a set of procedures must be implemented that allow the trajectory of the cocoa throughout the entire supply chain, to the final consumer.
However, Mendoza warns that one of the biggest challenges is related to the ownership of the properties where this grain is produced.
“The rule says that the producer You also have to prove it by means of a document, such as the title or a certificate of possessionwho owns that land (where he grows cocoa),” he says.
In this sense, advancing in this adaptation is not only a matter of complying with the regulations, but will also require assigning a specific budget. Therefore, the producers are waiting for a work route prepared by the Ministry of Economy in conjunction with Midagri.
For his part, Ricardo LimoPromperú’s Director of Export Promotion, points out that, given the problems in the European market, expansion efforts are currently focusing on Asia.
“That is where markets like Japan, Korea, even China itself arise to be able to relocate our products in international markets,” he stressed.
More than S/103 million in placements
Agrobanco has achieved placements for S/103 million in the last year, which has benefited more than 11,000 producers in totalaccording to César Quispe Luján, president of the Agrobank Directory.
According to the official, one of the main advantages of the loans granted by this entity is the interest rate, which is the lowest in the financial system, being 3.5% per year.
On the other hand, Quispe commented that agrobank has approved a cocoa plantation rehabilitation program to finance small cocoa farmers to renovate their aging plantations.
The word
Ricardo Limo, Director of Promperú
“We are hoping to sustain exports at a growth rate of 10% experienced last year, despite the fact that a complex year is coming due to the drop in international demand.”
Source: Larepublica
Alia is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 news agency. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
