PE_Peru minister of agriculture Milton Von Hesse

Milton Von Hesse, Peru's minister of agriculture

During the course of the next two to three years, some 120,000ha of new planted area will become available in Peru for the production of agricultural goods destined for export.

The expansion will be made possible thanks to widespread “mega” irrigation projects, revealed the Andean country’s minster of agriculture Milton Von Hesse at last week’s annual ProCitrus seminar in Lima, Peru.

“Major irrigation projects are going to mature in the next two to three years and we will have 120,000ha of new land for the agro-export business, which will improve returns and the quality of life for agriculture growers across the country,” Von Hesse explained.

Speaking at the Global Berry Congress 2013 in Santiago, Chile, on 24-26 April, Camposol’s chief commercial officer, José Antonio Gómez, confirmed the continued expansion of Peru’s agriculture production capacity.

“Government investment in irrigation projects will ultimately provide 290,000ha of new and improved land across Peru but mainly along the northern coastline,” Gómez explained.

According to the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture, currently there are various irrigation developments taking place along the coast of Peru, such as Chavimochic in La Libertad region, Olmos (in Lambayeque), Chinecas (áncash), and Alto Piura and Majes-Siguas II (Arequipa).