Peru only processes 10% of its potato production

By: Rodolfo Ardiles Villamonte The seasonal oversupply of potatoes is a recurring problem in Peru that, until before the pandemic, caused social protests by producers due to the drastic drop in farm prices and the perception of abandonment by the State . Beyond demanding compliance with the Law on State Purchases of Food of Origin in Family Farming (Law No. 31071), producers demand measures to increase the profitability of their crops, such as potatoes. “What good is it for us to be efficient or competitive in productivity if the State abandons us to our fate?” farmers claim. Currently, in producing areas such as Andahuaylas, Apurímac, the price per kilo of top quality potatoes has fallen to S/0.60 in farms. Given the rising cost of labor, some producers have chosen not to harvest their tubers. Others, even facing losses, continue harvesting to recover part of their investments, which amount to approximately S/18,000 per hectare. With an average yield of 25 tons and a price of ...