Peru is still Latin America's largest potato producer and ranks 14th in the world, the director of the Agricultural Business Section at Peru’s Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry, Mirna Zuzunaga, affirmed.
In 2014, the Andean tuber production totaled 4.6 million tonnes on a 317,648-hectare cultivated area. It is grown in 19 regions of the country, even at sites located 4,200 meters above sea level.
"Potato has been and is still one of the most important foodstuffs used to combat hunger and poverty. In Peru and many other parts of the world, potato is the most consumed tuber," he stated.
Festival
Today, Zuzunaga attended the “6th Native Potato Festival” launch event, which aims at promoting and stimulating its consumption by spreading information about potato varieties.
The event will take place at Lima district’s Parque de la Exposición on May 29-31. It seeks to gather conservationist producers from 12 regions of Peru such as: Cajamarca, La Libertad, Ancash, Huanuco, Pasco, Junin, Lima, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Cusco and Puno.
(END) ESV/JJN/MVB