Peru’s National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) has signed an agreement with the Añaños Foundation to develop new fruit production areas for peaches, mangoes, apples and pomegranates in Peru’s rural and Amazonian regions, according to a Ministry of Agriculture news release.
Agriculture Minister Carlos Leyton said in the statement that the public-private alliance will benefit 10,000 growers in the regions of Cajamarca, Ayacucho, Cusco, Puno, Ucayali, San Martín, Loreto, Piura, Ancash, Ica y Huanuco.
The Añaños Foundation will cover the cost of planting and production as well as cold-storage facilities, while INIA specialists will support research programmes and the installation of technology.
According to the report, Peru has the ideal weather conditions and productivity to grow peaches on a year round basis in comparison with the short two-month season in neighbouring Chile.
Under the programme, the area planted with peaches will increase from 5,000ha to 25,000ha and in three years’ time boost Peru’s annual peach crop from 40,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes.
The project will also contribute to improving the quality of life for growers and their families in each of the regions involved as well as support the development of the Peruvian agriculture industry.
