Peru is the third largest country on the South American continent - after
Brazil and Argentina. Peru's territory is divided into three distinct
areas: a 20 km broad coastal strip, the Andes Cordilleras and a thick,
tropical jungle. Less than 50% of its surface is used for agriculture.
Ancient civilizations living, in the Andes Mountains have given us corn,
tomatoes and potatoes. Since the Spanish conquest of the country,
agriculture has been abandoned in favour of more lucrative mining. Until
recently, Peru was an exporter of commodities, especially cotton and
coffee. Since the agrarian reform initiated by the government in 1990,
large farms were parcelled out to small farmers, and transformed into
cooperatives. Today, the average farm is about 1.5 acres.
In spite of almost ideal climatic, soil and water conditions,
fruit-growing was mostly marginal. Imports from neighbouring countries
(grapes, apples, pears, kiwi and avocadoes from Chile, as well as bananas
from Ecuador) influenced Peru. to produce fruits for export.
In 1994, the National Fruit Committee, CONAFRUT, was created and appealed
to USAID and Israel for cooperation in the field of fruit producing. In
August of the same year, an Israeli expert on the subject was dispatched
to the area in order to conduct a survey, identify existing problems, as
well as to prepare a long-term programme between Peru and Israel, with the
assistance of USAID.
The CONAFRUT programme includes the following subjects:
Agricultural research
Due to restrictions in this field, Peru had to import new or improved
species of fruit trees, such as citrus, avocado, mango, olive, etc. The
programme suggested importing quality scions from Israel.
Marketing
Owing to the absence of an established marketing organization, farmers are
compelled to sell their products on-site, with no attention paid to
quality or market prices. This cooperation programme aims at developing
marketing prospects by securing connections with exporting companies.
Plant protection
The reorganization of the Ministry of Agriculture generated a national
agriculture protection service (SENASA); its mission being the protection
of products against parasites, as well as the prevention of diseases, both
alien to Peruvian agriculture. The CONAFRUT programme brought new,
parasite-free plants, and offered Peruvian professionals training courses
in Israel in the field of plant protection.
Field production
The restrictions undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture resulted in the
reduction of all field services, leaving the farmer with little or no
assistance in his/her daily work. Therefore, crops are meagre, though huge
differences - up to 6 to 1 - are sometimes found among farmers, often
among neighbouring farms. This observation proves that the main cause for
low yields is due to low-level technologies. This programme of cooperation
aims at enabling the transfer of know-how in agro-technology, and
particularly in irrigation.
Post-harvesting management
Over 60% of the produce never reach the marketplace, for the following
reasons: mishandling, inadequate packaging, total absence of refrigerating
conditions, lack of chemical or other treatments to preserve crops, etc.
This programme is designed to facilitate appropriate changes in
post-harvesting, in order to allow a greater quantity of farm products to
reach the market, and prevent their rotting in the field.
Since the project started, the following activities have taken place:
1. Seminars
The project has organized 5 seminars in which approximately 30
professionals have taken part.
2. Workshops
Workshops provide an occasion to discuss specific problems, wherein
participants (approximately 35) may present the difficulties encountered
and 2-3 lecturers provide solutions. About 22 such workshops were held,
with participants coming from the Ministry of Agriculture, local and
international organizations, regional growers, water companies, NGO's,
universities, etc.
3. Field days
The possibility to visit plots and receive detailed information about
various crops are offered within the framework of the programme.
4. Lectures
Delivered by guest lecturers to an audience of teachers, students and
business people.
5. Study visits to Israel
This enables farmers to become familiar with modern agricultural
technologies.
6. Exhibitions
Open to the public, wherein Israeli firms display modern equipment, and
other exhibitions are designed for a more professional audience.
Population growth and depletion of natural resources necessitate the
search for solutions to produce more and better quality food. Therefore,
the partners in the project have proposed the creation of technological
greenhouses, where commercial firms will extend services in required
fields, such as pest control, fruit harvesting, transportation of produce,
and extension, all under professional management. This new project could
be an efficacious alternative to the various cooperatives, which proved
unsuccessful.
The CONAFRUT programme, in cooperation with MASHAV-USAID, aspires to
address key agricultural issues, promote economic endeavours, as well as
international cooperation. It reflects Israel's commitment and dedication
to share with others appropriate technologies, know-how, human resource
training and practical experience gained in agricultural and rural
development, adapted to each country's specific needs and the relevant
conditions of its agronomy.