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Peru

GIEWS Country Brief: Peru 31-March-2015

Attachments

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

  • Initial production forecast for 2015 rice points to slight recovery from last year’s low level

  • Cereal imports in 2014 at record levels

  • In March, potato prices decline from their high levels, rice and maize prices remain unchanged

  • Severe rains cause localized landslides

Initial production forecast for 2015 rice points to slight recovery from last year’s low level

Planting of the main 2015 rice crop is virtually concluded. Low water levels in irrigation reservoirs at the beginning of the sowing period in January discouraged farmers from increasing plantings significantly from last year’s levels. Area sown is expected to be slightly above last year’s level. However, unseasonal rains in the second half of March are expected to benefit water levels in irrigation reservoirs which could benefit crop development and yields. Preliminary forecasts point to an output of 2.9 million tonnes of paddy rice or 2 percent up from 2014. Harvest of 2015 maize is well advanced and initial forecasts point to an increase of 8 percent from last year’s reduced levels, mainly reflecting a recovery in yields.

The 2014 aggregate cereal production was estimated at 3.9 million tonnes, 6 percent lower than the previous year’s level and the lowest level in four years. The marked decline in production mainly reflects drought during the growing season.