Peru is a reference in the development of agro-exports for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), because it managed to convert deserts into productive agricultural valleys, as is the case of the Chavimochic Special Project (La Libertad).

“There is work that can be taken as a reference in other irrigation projects and that was taken note of in this meeting (technical visit to the project Chavimochic), so we are very happy that positive things are happening,” said the Peruvian Senior Official before APEC, Renato Reyes Tagle, to the Agencia Andina.

In Food Safety Week of the APEC 2024, which takes place in the city of Trujillo (La Libertad), Renato Reyes Tagle highlighted the visit made the day before by the ministers of agriculture of APEC to the project Chavimochic, which includes the Chao, Virú and Moche valleys.

“The ministers have told us that they were impressed by the public-private work, because Chavimochic It is a State investment that has made a contribution to the agro-export sector, and which in turn has an important socioeconomic impact,” he said. “Today we are first in blueberries in the world, but probably in a few years we will be talking about being world exporters in other products, many of them that will come from this region (La Libertad),” he added.

The diplomat highlighted that in Chavimochic 25,000 hectares of desert were converted into a “green sea”, which is generating more than 50,000 jobs and an important economic movement.

“Only last year of the area that impacts Chavimochic More than 1,300 billion dollars have come from exports. Therefore, some of the economies of APEC They have mentioned to us that Peru should be sharing good practices in irrigation projects,” he stated.

“Thanks to the geography of La Libertad, a new type of blueberry has been created, known as the tropical blueberry, because normally this fruit grows in cold areas of the world, but it has adapted to this region and that is why.

From being a desert it has become the source of growing blueberries, avocados, asparagus, and artichokes,” he added.

Renato Reyes Tagle considered that, taking into account that phase 3 of the project is coming Chavimochic, 60,000 hectares will be irrigated and 50,000 new jobs will be created. "Some businessmen tell us that only one of those companies will export everything that Chile exports in blueberries in the coming years," he said.

“We have learned that only Camposol (a company that operates in Chavimochic) exports to 18 of the 21 economies of APEC"He said.