Bolivia: Excessive rains in La Paz cause the loss of at least 100,000 tons of potatoes.
Over the past two months, heavy rains have hit the La Paz region, causing serious impacts on agricultural production.
Information provided by Fredy Villagomez Guzmán, director of the Center for Research and Promotion of Peasantry (CIPCA), details how the rainfall severely affected both potato crops and livestock in various areas of the highlands.
During the months of February and March, the rains were especially intense, with some areas, such as the municipality of San Andrés de Machaca, experiencing severe flooding. This rainfall caused water to accumulate in flat areas where potatoes and other root crops are primarily grown, resulting in crop rot and significant production losses.
The CIPCA representative explained to Fides radio that the hardest hit areas were Calamarca, Patacamaya, and Colquechaca, where potato crops suffered losses of up to 50% due to the flooding. In contrast, higher and steeper areas, such as the community of Caluyo, have seen less impact and have recorded healthier potato production. However, production in the higher elevations is more limited in terms of planted hectares.
According to CIPCA data, approximately 240,000 tons of potatoes are produced annually in the La Paz plateau. With an estimated 40% to 50% loss of the crop in the affected areas, around 100,000 tons of potatoes could have been lost due to excessive rainfall.
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