Rain is causing havoc in various parts of the country, by severely affecting agricultural activities.
Heavy rains have led to flooding of crop fields in Arequipa, Tacna, Lambayeque, La Libertad and Ica, damaging products which are intended for local consumption and export.
"In Lambayeque several acres of fruit trees have been flooded. In Ica and in Arequipa, there have been overflows of rivers that have affected various crops," explained a source from Senamhi´s Agrometeorology department.
But heavy rainfall on the northern coast in Piura and Lambayeque has put at risk between 10,000 to 15,000 metric tons of mango export, warned Juan Carlos Rivera, manager of the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers and Exporters (APEAM).
"In Piura rain is hampering the collection and shipment of mangoes to the packing plants, because road access has been damaged, jeopardizing both the quality of the product as well as meeting the deliveries to foreign customers," explained APEAM.
The appearance of fungus could affect the production, "While in Piura 80% of mango production has already been harvested, 20% is missing. Lambayeque has garnered only 30%. Casma (Ancash) and Ica have not yet even started the harvest campaign, "This could further erode the export volume planned for this season (December 2011 - March 2012) with a yield around 65,000 metric tons.
"Last year we exported 130,000 tons, but this year it will fall by half and if rainfall continues in the north we will only export around 55,000 tons," he predicted. Senamhi forecasts heavy rains to continue, at least until the weekend.
Source: Gestion