Proinversión seeks to expand farmland in Chinecas and the Chancay valley by 46,000 hectares

Two important irrigation projects have been reactivated and will allow the cultivation areas to be expanded by 46,000 hectares in Chinecas (Áncash) and the Chancay valley (Lambayeque), that will be allocated to the development of agro-exports. This was achieved after coordination between the Private Investment Promotion Agency (Proinversión)with the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Risk (Midagri), the Regional Government of Ancash and the Regional Government of Lambayeque.

What does the project in Chinecas consist of?

In the case of Chinecas, the project that Proinversión and the Regional Government of Áncash have been working on will allow the waters of the Santa River to be diverted and incorporate around 26,000 hectares of new land and improve the irrigation of around 33,000 hectares in the valleys. and intervals of Santa Lacramarca, Nepeña, Casma and Huarmey, in addition to the supply for population use. It will require an investment of approximately US$600 million.

“The new infrastructure of the project and the improvement of existing works will allow us to have water throughout the year, which will make possible its orientation towards modern agriculture with high agro-export potential, generating a multiplier effect in the economy of Áncash”highlighted the executive director of Proinversión, José Salardi.

To make the project a reality, in April 2023, the entity attached to the MTC and the GORE Áncash signed an agreement that will allow the selection of technically solvent companies to prepare pre-investment studies — which could begin in December 2023 — and the supervision of said studies. , GORE Áncash acting as Formulating Unit.

In a second stage, with the viability of the project within the framework of Invierte.pe and its qualification to be developed as a PPP, Proinversión will be in charge of conducting the structuring and transaction phases until the award.

How much is the investment for the project in the Chancay valley?

Likewise, the Co-financed Private Initiative (IPC) project “Comprehensive Water System of the Chancay-Lambayeque Valley” was reactivated, which will ensure the irrigation of more than 90,000 hectares of land in the Chancay – Lambayeque valley and incorporate up to 20,000 hectares of land. new from the Pampas de Reque, district of Reque (Chiclayo), that will be oriented towards the development of agro-exports, which will boost the economy and employment in their area of ​​influence.

The project will recover around 500 million cubic meters of water that are currently lost to the sea or infiltrate from unlined canals or crop fields, which will make it possible to retain more surplus water in reservoirs and use it in the future. improvement of irrigation in the valley and incorporation of new lands.

The investment planned for the implementation of this IPC will be approximately US$580 million. The project includes, among other works, the rehabilitation and re-equipment of the existing hydraulic infrastructure, including the Tinajones reservoir. In addition to the construction of a new dam with a capacity of 150 million cubic meters, the lining of 400 km of canals, the construction of vertical drainage through 100 tubular wells and the construction of water conduction and distribution infrastructure on the new lands.

In addition, the decrease in subsoil water levels will prevent further loss of land and damage to infrastructure due to salinization.

“The execution of these two irrigation megaprojects, which together require an estimated investment of US$1.2 billion, will contribute to strengthening the agro-export supply of high-value agricultural products, boosting the economy and generating employment in the country,” he highlighted. Salardi, in addition to contributing to strengthen food security in the country, given that with the foreign exchange generated by the project, it will be possible to purchase agricultural products in whose production we are not competitivehe added.