The head of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), Víctor Maita Frisancho, referred to the increase in the prices of fertilizers in the market. In this regard, he cited the issuance of two Emergency Decrees; the first an economic subsidy of S / 350 to S / 1.300 to producers with between 2 to 10 hectares, and the second, a bonus of S / 350 to producers with less than 2 hectares, both aimed at mitigating the impacts of increases in this input. The latter will be made through the Midis.

However, he announced that within two or three weeks, the Executive will issue a regulation to reduce the price of fertilizers, through a direct subsidy that will allow a price of S / 100 and S / 120 per bag of fertilizers (urea ), because currently costs exceed S / 200 and S / 210 per bag.

"It is a direct subsidy that will help reduce the price of fertilizers and thus guarantee the agricultural season and food production," stressed the minister.

Fertilizer processing plant
He also reported that he hopes that in the first semester of this year the preparation of the feasibility study for the construction of a fertilizer processing plant based on phosphates in Bayóvar (Piura) can be completed, which will help lower the costs of small producers in the country.

In that sense, he said that the Bayóvar (Piura) phosphate-based fertilizer production plant could be built during the current administration of Pedro Castillo. This plant seeks to reduce dependence on other countries that offer these products.

“We have the phosphate deposits of Bayóvar, in Sechura (Piura) and we have also been sharing this with the same local authorities in that region, as well as in the Council of Ministers. Based on this, we announced that our country could have its own fertilizer processing plant ”, he declared.

“It is part of the industrialization of agriculture, one of the pillars of this process of the Second Agrarian Reform. (…) So far, we, as a sector, have managed to get the resources to study economic viability. We hope that this study will be completed in the first half of this year, which is the first stage, "he added.

Maita Frisancho stressed that the country could also produce urea, which is the most popular fertilizer in the world and that reaches a consumption of 400 million tons nationwide.

“We have also made efforts to turn to other neighboring countries such as Bolivia [to acquire urea]. They produce it but not in the quantities that we require. So, we are moving forward with it and we hope that this is a reality, "he explained.

He added that both his sector and the rest of the Council of Ministers agree that Peru should have its own fertilizer processing plant.