Bolivia: The communities of Betanzos have suffered a reduction of nearly 90% in their potato production.
About 15 communities have reported significant losses, said Marco Antonio Llanto, head of Risk Management for the Mayor’s Office of Betanzos.
The drought affecting the municipality of Betanzos since December has caused the destruction of almost 90% of the potato production in various communities, leaving farmers without food resources or seeds for the next agricultural season.
Approximately 15 communities have reported significant losses, according to Marco Antonio Llanto, head of Risk Management for the Betanzos Mayor’s Office. He explained that farmers no longer have access to enough water for irrigation, making it impossible to save their crops.
For his part, Marcelino Villapuma, a community leader in Lagunillas, highlighted the severe difficulties farmers face in securing their daily sustenance and organizing the upcoming agricultural season. In addition to potatoes, other crops such as corn, broad beans, and various vegetables have also been affected, increasing concerns about food security in the region.
Llanto warned that this crisis could cause a rise in the price of potatoes in the markets of Sucre and Potosí in the coming months, due to the significant decrease in production levels.
Fuente: Erbol
