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News > Latin America

Peru Floods Cause US$645 million in Agriculture Losses

  • Roughly 6,000 kilometers of roadway have been damaged or destroyed in the Peru floods.

    Roughly 6,000 kilometers of roadway have been damaged or destroyed in the Peru floods. | Photo: AFP

Published 11 April 2017
Opinion

The government has approved a multi-million dollar emergency aid package to help affected grower.

According to a statement released by the National Convention of Peruvian Agriculture (Conveagro), the recent floods have caused losses of near US$645 million in the agriculture and livestock sectors.

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The association's statement detailed that the heavy rains and flooding destroyed an estimated combined 92,000 hectares of banana, sugarcane and rice crops, among other products, mainly in the north of the country. Roughly 6,000 kilometers of roadway have been damaged or destroyed. “Most of those affected are small producers, many of whom require their loans to be rescheduled with zero-rate loans or through mechanisms to purchase debt," said Conveagro President Héctor Carrasco.

The Peruvian Council of Ministers has approved an Emergency Decree that will facilitate the implementation of a US$42-million program, developed by the agriculture ministry to help affected growers. This program includes the immediate allocation of US$29 million to repair damaged infrastructure such as canals and reservoirs. There will be a payout of US$307 per hectare of damaged production; up to a maximum US$1,231 per hectare. Additionally, funds will be allocated to restore plantations of bananas, lemons, mangos and other fruit trees directly affected by the floods.

The rains that began in Dec. was caused by El Niño Costero – the warming of the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador.

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