Puno is the region where crops have fallen the most

The previous agricultural campaign (2022-2023), as was foreseeable, was complicated; However, in his last months showed signs of recovery. Thus, until June of this year, around 1,891,427 hectares of the main transitory crops were planted nationwide, which meant a drop of close to 43,700 hectares or -2.3% in relation to the area planted in the same period. from the previous campaign. In May, the difference exceeded 4%.

However, there are still regions in which the planting level is much lower than that registered last year, according to data from the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (midagri).

Thus, Puno is the region where the greatest decrease in plantings was registered, with a decrease of 18.8% or more than 27,731 hectares. In this area of ​​the country, the provinces of San Román, Lampa and Huancané were the ones that reduced their cultivated area the most, with -36.4%, -34.2% and -27.1%, respectively.

In some districts of these provinces, even less than half of last year has been planted. This is the case of the districts of San Miguel and Taraco.
Among the regions with figures in red, there are also Junín, with a reduction of 12.2%; Cusco (-7.7%); Ancash (-7.3%); Cajamarca (-6.4%) and Ayacucho (-5.8%).

On the other hand, Ucayali, Lambayeque and San Martín are the regions that have most increased their planted areas, with a growth of 37.5%, 24.2% and 10.6%, each one. This group is completed by Ica (9.1%), Tumbes (7.5%) and Madre de Dios (7.4%).

Result by regions

Regarding the main crops, the potato continues registering negative numbers, with a reduction of 23,241 hectares (-7.1%), reaching a total of 306,310 hectares.

On the other hand, rice has almost managed to recover its planting level and shows only a slight decrease of 0.4%, and totals 389,735.6 hectares nationwide.

Within the main crops under the supervision of Midagri, the quinoa continues to be the most affected, with a decrease of 16.4% compared to the previous campaign. However, it is important to highlight that a significant recovery is observed, since until May the trend showed a more pronounced fall.

production in red

In the first half of the year, the agricultural subsector contracted by 4.6%, according to Midagri.

This result was influenced by lower potato harvests, which fell by 14.5% and reached 3,976,619 tons, due to the impact of weather phenomena in agricultural areas, mainly Puno, Cusco and Cajamarca.

It also decreased the rice production shell by 3.1% and reached 2 million 169,571 tons. This, explains Midagri, is due to the smaller area planted and harvested in Amazonas, Lambayeque and Cajamarca.

also dropped olive production at 13.0%, starchy corn (-16.3%), alfalfa (-6.0%), quinoa (-18.5%) and paprika (-18.6%).

would close negative

Laureano del Castillo, Executive Director of the Cepes, explains that, despite the recovery observed in planting levels during the last months of the previous campaign, it would have ended with negative figures. This is due to the unprecedented impact of the weather events that occurred between the end of last year and the beginning of 2023, as well as the crisis due to the shortage of fertilizers.

In the southern region, droughts played a determining role as the main obstacle for crops such as potatoes and quinoa, according to what he points out. While, in the north, the rains assumed the same role.

In the case of Puno, he adds that in addition to the lack of rain, the sociopolitical crisis also had an influence. This region was one of the most affected by the protests that broke out in the first months of 2023.

The representative of Cepes also emphasizes that, in this campaign, the presence of the El Niño phenomenon will affect crop yields or decrease the planted area. The rainfed areas being the most affected.

Fact

Positive. As of June of this year, the blueberry production in 39.7%, as well as avocado (10.3%), grapes (9.1%), oil palm (11.8%), hard yellow corn (3%) and castilla beans (234%).

Area planted until June nationwide