According to official statistics last Friday, 120,000 people have been made homeless, and 90 have lost their lives. There are huge issues with infrastructure since bridges and roads have been destroyed. Power supplies and other essential services have also been affected.
"From an agricultural point of view the majority of export crops are not in peak season so we will have to wait and see what will happen. In general there will be obvious problems with crops in Piura, such as bananas and the tail end of the mango season," explains Rob Cullen from Pacific Produce, who was in Peru last week and witnessed the destruction. "We will have to wait and see what damage has been done to the grape vines. Further south plantations of blueberries, avocado and citrus should in theory be okay."
"I cannot speak for Peru, but can only give the opinion of our farms, which is that the majority of export crops should be fine, but high levels of moisture could give rise to increased pest and disease pressure.
"At the moment the focus is on the humanitarian problems, our farms and our suppliers tend to be big employers and move fast to help the local population with the basic needs of food, water and shelter and, in the UK, we will try to do our bit by raising some money.
"I think that we have to wait until the rains have finished before a full assessment of the damage can be taken and only then can the job of rebuilding start. Aside from donations the best thing that we can do is to keep business moving for Peru and that is what we will focus on at Pacific Produce."
Below is part of an email from my boss in Peru which sums up most of the conversations that I have had.
"'El Peru es mas grande que sus problemas' - Peru is bigger than it’s problems," said the owner of La Calera, parent company of Pacific Produce.
"This tragedy has brought unity to an otherwise complex Peru. We are all looking to one place now - going through this together."
For more information:Robert Cullum
Pacific Produce
+44 (0) 1865877801
Email: rob@pacificproduce.co.uk
www.pacificproduce.co.uk
