The Executive Branch made official Law 31920, which promotes the potato industrializationwith the aim of promoting the agro-industrial activity of this tuber and stimulating the supply of its derivatives in different markets and exports.
The law, published this Wednesday, November 8 in El Peruano, details that the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) will promote technical assistance to potato producers in activities related to “improving the quality of production, modernization, transformation processes and, above all, in the identification of markets and financing alternatives”.
“These activities are carried out through their programs, projects or general directorates, as appropriate,” the document states.
In turn, Senasa will implement a technical assistance and support program to promote the use of certified seeds in potato cultivation, both at the level of seed producers and users. For this purpose, producers can organize themselves into associations.
Midagri will also promote mass dissemination campaigns for the consumption of Peruvian potatoes in their different varieties, presentations and derivatives for their commercialization in national and international markets.
“Through its competent bodies, Midagri promotes the identification of markets for the supply of industrialization of potato cultivation,” he continues.
Finally, the Peruvian State will facilitate public or private financing programs to generate the industrialization of potatoes, in agreement with regional governments and local governments.
Industrialization of potatoes in Peru
Peru remains the leading potato producer in Latin America, with a production volume of 6 million metric tons recorded in 2022. Production of the tuber is concentrated 90% in the mountains, highlighting the group of native potatoes.
The harvested potato area reaches 330,790 hectares of crops, which has allowed Peru to be confirmed as a continental leader, surpassing Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia, among others.
Furthermore, potato cultivation in our country is a task of 711,313 families distributed in 19 regions, the departments with the highest production being Puno, Huánuco, Cusco, Cajamarca, Huancavelica, Junín, among others.
Potatoes are the fourth most grown food in the world only after wheat, corn and rice; They are produced in more than 125 countries around the planet. Its cultivation has become a notable driver of the regional and local economy, especially in high Andean areas where it generated more than 27 million days of work in 2022.
Source: Larepublica
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