The Peruvian government will have added 253,000ha of new irrigated agricultural land under its Mi Riego programme by the end of its current term according to agriculture minister Juan Manuel Benites Ramos.
Launched in 2013, the scheme provides funding for major water infrastructure projects such as the construction of canals, dams, reservoirs and irrigation technology in Andean areas to exploit local water resources. It will benefit around 71,000 rural families and require more than US$500m of government investment.
Speaking during a presentation to the country’s Agricultural Comisión, Benites claimed that this year alone the government was funding 46 projects adding an extra 67,000ha of irrigated production.
He also outlined the scope of the government’s El Niño prevention plan which was launched last year and focuses on Tumbes, Piura and Lambayeque. He noted that last year alone the disaster prevention budget amounted to US$679m, most of which was spent on cleaning rivers and streams, amongst other measures. This year an additional US$34m have been allocated to the fund.
