Peru: Potato farmers fight Andean weevil

The Andean potato weevil is one of the most damaging pests affecting potato crops, especially in the highland region of the country. Therefore, and after 17 years of research, the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI) has developed a new technology to combat the spread of this pest, thus increasing the crop's productivity, profitability and competitiveness.

If applied in an optimal and timely manner, the technology (also known as Integrated Management of the Andean weevil in Potato Crops) has a direct impact on the crop's quality and protection, as there is a decrease in the margin of damage caused by the pest.

It also allows producers to achieve a higher production yield of almost 2 tons per hectare and reduces production costs, as pesticides are only used when the threshold of damage has been surpassed.

This technological innovation is applicable in the areas of the Andes, because of the similarities between the weevil species and the environmental conditions.

The research, which was carried out by the Agricultural Experiment Station Illpa Puno, was conducted between 1998 and 2014 in testing and economic validation plots in the towns of Yunguta, Huaych, and Wilamaya in the province of El Collao and in the locality of Tahuaco, in the province of Yunguyo, Puno department.

Source: National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) / cronicaviva.com.pe