Shortage of water in central highland regions could affect sizing and limit availability of fruit for export warns Prohass
A drought in parts of Peru’s Andean regions could jeopardise the country’s 2023 avocado campaign in Peru, according to industry body Prohass.
President Juan Carlos Paredes said a shortage of water in areas without dams or water reservoirs, which account for around 30 per cent of Peru’s export volume, could impact fruit sizing and therefore limit the availability next year.
“There is a risk that if the fruit does not receive enough water, it may be a little too small. I could not tell you what the dimension or size of the problem is, but there is that risk, especially in the Andean areas,” he said.
Peru’s central highlands have seen a steady increase in planted area over recent years. The region with the highest production is Ayacucho, which increased its planted area by 288 per cent between 2018 and 2022 to 2,296ha, Prohass said.
Huancavelica has also experienced rapid growth, with planted area climbing from 339ha four years ago to 1,793ha today, representing an increase of 429 per cent.
