The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Juan Manuel Benites, estimated that Peru could close this year with more than 6,000 million dollars in sales of agricultural products to the international market, i.e. 17% more than in 2014.
In statements to Andina news agency, Benites said that this increase reflected the good quality that the domestic products, such as asparagus and quinoa, had in the foreign market.
"Worldwide, we rank first in asparagus and quinoa, second in organic bananas, third in avocado, fifth in grapes, and we are also second in organic coffee and seventh in specialty coffee," said Benites.
The Minister also praised the role of family farming in the food supply, as the greatest resources of the sector budget (78% of the total) are allocated to this activity.
Agricultural GDP
In turn, the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy of the Minister of Agriculture, Cesar Sotomayor, projected the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 3.5% this year, thanks to investments made in the sector.
By May 2015, he said, the sectors' growth exceeded 3%, continuing with the trend of recent months.
Sotomayor said that one of the largest investments had taken place in the Coffee Plantation Renewal Program in the central jungle.
Quinoa
Peru has an annual production of 114 343 tons, and last year the country exported 35,440 tons of quinoa worth $200 million dollars.
The head of Minagri said these exports accounted for 28% of national production, and that the remaining 72% was destined for domestic consumption (77.903 tons).
In general, the main target markets of the Andean grains are the United States, Canada, Holland, England and Australia.
Source: elperuano.com.pe