In the 2017/2018 season, which kicks off next month, national table grape production is expected to decline by 10%, said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), José Manuel Hernández Calderón.
He indicated that this reduction is due to the direct impact generated by the Coastal El Niño phenomenon that affected the north coast of the country.
He explained that at the end of 2016 there was a drought in the area, which alarmed producers who therefore did not prune their plantations to prevent the berries from sprouting (once sprouted it is necessary to water them to prevent them from falling).
However, he added, immediately after the drought floods were recorded in those regions and the producers began to prune, but due to the climate change the plantations did not fructify.
Added to this failure to fructify was that, with the humidity, some grape plantations (and crops in general) suffered attacks from pests and diseases.
"Regarding exports, not even a single imperfect grape can be sent, that's why a reduction of around 10% in production is projected, which does not affect the magnitude of all the production, just the export of grapes from Peru," concluded Hernández.
Source: agraria.pe