Peru’s Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry reports that the country has consolidated itself as the leading potato producer in Latin America and the second in the Americas, behind only the United States.
“Indicators tell us that we are already the first [potato producer] in all of Latin America and the 11th worldwide,” says agriculture and irrigation minister José Manuel Hernandez.
On a global scale, the country ranks below China, India, the U.S. and Russia, among others.
Peru’s potato output stood a little above 4.5 million tons in 2016, with an estimated 787,104-acre crop area and an average yield of 5.9 tons per acre, official data reveals.
On the other hand, the Henandez underlines potatoes’ role as the main tuber crop in Peru, serving as a source of livelihood for 711,313 families. Said households are distributed among 19 Peruvian regions, with the largest producers being Puno, Huanuco, Cusco, Cajamarca, Huancavelica and Junin.
“Ninety percent of [Peru’s] potato production is focused in the highlands,” says Hernandez.
He also says the crop has generated more than 110,000 permanent jobs and close to 33.4 million daily payouts. In addition, Hernandez underscores potato growing—of close to 3,000 varieties—accounts for 4 percent of the country’s agricultural GDP.
Source: Andina