Peru (Cañete): Farmers destroy potato crops due to a plague intensified by climate change
A blight, fueled by high temperatures, has forced farmers in Cañete to destroy potato crops. They warn of losses in the millions and a potential impact on market supply.
Farmers in the Quilmaná district of Cañete province have taken drastic measures due to the spread of a blight fueled by the high temperatures associated with El Niño. To prevent the disease from spreading to other fields, producers have begun destroying approximately 100 hectares of potato crops. This action represents significant economic losses and raises concerns about the supply in the coming months.
Producers report that weather conditions have interfered with the normal development of the crop, favoring the spread of the pest. As a result, many plants failed to form tubers under optimal conditions for harvesting, virtually guaranteeing the loss of the season in several plots.
Millions in losses and urgent requests for help
The affected farmers estimate that the economic losses are approximately 20,000 soles per hectare, reaching a total impact of close to 2 million soles due to the approximately 100 hectares destroyed.
"We should already be harvesting, but the potatoes haven’t developed. The plague has affected the entire crop and unfortunately we won’t have anything to harvest," explained Soledad Padilla, a member of an agricultural producers’ association in the area.
Faced with this situation, producers have urgently requested the intervention of the government and agricultural authorities. Their demands include technical assistance, health monitoring, and control measures to halt the spread of the pest before it reaches new production areas.
Growing concern over potato supply
In addition to the severe economic impact on farming families, this situation could affect the market. If losses continue and the pest is not controlled in time, the potato supply could decrease in the coming months, increasing pressure on prices and supply in various markets across the country.
Experts agree that climatic events associated with El Niño increase the risk of the appearance and spread of pests and diseases in numerous crops, especially when temperatures remain above normal values for long periods.
The evolution of the climatic phenomenon and the speed with which control measures are adopted will be crucial to limiting losses and preventing a localized crisis from affecting one of Peru’s most important agricultural productions.
Fuente: agrolatam.com
