The agriculture of the Peruvian coast depends almost exclusively on irrigation systems, only 4.8% of the agricultural area does not have systems of this type. The coast is an arid area where water is scarce during long droughts. But the climate is extremely variable, also producing floods.
Their particular conditions have determined the type of agriculture that has developed in the region. In this sense, water is commonly obtained by diversion from rivers. Extensive and complex irrigation canals, many of which date from pre-Hispanic times, lead it from the highlands to the valleys.
Subsoil water is also used, digging up to the water table or through aqueducts or underground tunnels, and irrigation of wells is carried out, pumping the water with motorized pumps.
Advantages for the development of export crops
Much of Peru's recent economic development is due to the growth of agriculture for export.
The country's coastline has numerous rivers, but the desert plains between the valleys remained uncultivated until the 1990s.
The creation of large water reservoirs due to the construction of hydroelectric plants gave the country a reliable water supply, and large investments have been made in public irrigation systems.
This area has an area of about 200,000 km ², and includes three subregions with different conditions: north (Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad), center (Ancash, Lima and Ica) and south (Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna).
In general, the entire area is characterized by high atmospheric humidity and by presenting low and irregular rainfall. For its part, its soils are the most productive in Peru, thanks to its quality and flat topography.
In this sense, it has more than one million hectares suitable for cultivation, most of them with irrigation infrastructure.
Due to this and its temperate climate, two harvests per year can be obtained, although all this depends on the availability of water and other conditions related to the climate and economic aspects.
In addition, there are other advantages: it is within easy reach of important urban markets, its road infrastructure is relatively dense with acceptable conditions, and it is very close to ports.
The latter guarantees relatively easy access to international markets, especially those in the northern hemisphere.
Agro-export products
The agriculture of the Peruvian coast has been conquering spaces in international markets.
In 2017, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of that nation, there was an increase of 38% in traditional agricultural exports compared to the same period of the previous year. In total they reached US $ 88 million.
However, among the most sold export crops of coastal origin worldwide are: fresh and dried grapes (grown in Lima and Ica), asparagus (La Libertad, Ancash, Lima and Ica), mangoes: (Piura and Ancash), artichokes (La Libertad and Ica), cocoa (Piura) and coffee (Piura).
References
- Oré, MT (2005). Water: common good and private uses: irrigation, state and conflicts in La Archirana del Inca. Lima: PUCP Editorial Fund.
- Salazar, B. (s / f). Irrigation in Peru: a long way to go Irrigated agriculture is concentrated on the coast. The Agrarian Magazine, pp. 10-11. Recovered from larevistaagraria.org.
- Eguren, F. (2002). Agriculture of the Peruvian coast. Agrarian Debate, No. 35, pp. 1-38.
- Agricultural exports on the rise in Peru (s / f). Oxford Business Group. Recovered from oxfordbusinessgroup.com.
- Peru sold to the world US $ 909 million in agricultural products, which ones were more in demand? (2017, April 09). Management. Recovered from gestion.pe.