Carlos Posada, the executive director of the Institute for Research and Development and Foreign trade (Idexcam) of the Chamber of commerce of Lima, said that the high temperatures, unusual rains, and mudslides were wreaking havoc on six agricultural products, especially mangoes, asparagus, quinoa, and cocoa.
"The high temperatures, the unusual rains and landslides are affecting the agricultural production in 15 regions of the country; most of which were included in the declaration of water emergency in the last few months of last year," he said.
The affected regions include Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Cajamarca, Amazonas, Ancash, Ica, Pasco, Junin, Huancavelica, Arequipa, Tacna, Apurimac, and Puno, which have all had unseasonal rains since late December last year.
Between January and March this year, the Idexcam said that the weather conditions had a particularly negative impact on the production and export value and volume on four items. "The exports of mango, asparagus, quinoa, and cocoa have decreased by an average of 52%," he said.
In the first quarter of 2015, mango shipments amounted to more than $190 million.
Against this background, the Idexcam expects the authorities of the agricultural industry will take the necessary corrective measures to reverse this situation, once this unusual rainy season comes to an end.
Source: diariocorreo.pe