The Business Year Special Report
José Gerardo Nestor Ezeta Carpio, Executive President, Sierra y Selva Exportadora
Providing training, education, and planning services to Peru’s agricultural sector, Sierra y Selva Exportadora is helping family farmers in the country to scale up and develop their capacities.
Family farmers represent 80% of agricultural activity People who seek access to Sierra y Selva Exportadora’s training, education, and planning services must meet certain conditions. Can you tell us about your operations and services?
In Peru, family farmers represent over 80% of agricultural activity. In order to improve the living conditions of farmers and grow the sector, the government has been implementing the Family Farming National Strategy 2015-2021 in partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the UN. At the bottom of the table are farmers who practice subsistence farming. Under the strategy, these farmers will receive assistance from the government, aimed at improving their agricultural produce and standards of living. As a result, these farmers will scale to a level called family intermediate agriculture, which means they will be able to sell a percentage of their produce. The third level is made up of producers that practice consolidated family farming, which means that they possess the necessary water resources, organic fertilizers, and strategies. At Sierra y Selva Exportadora, we serve level-three farmers because the Ministry of Agriculture’s AGRORURAL program deals with level-two farmers. Then, there is another entity called Foncodes, which aids level-one farmers. Our biggest challenge is sustaining as an association and being successful in our mission. We need to teach these farmers how to use technology and connect with the world. In order to develop such capacities, we must invest in young people. A successful example is that of Apurimac, a cooperative of young quinoa farmers with university degrees whose parents did not even finish secondary education. By attracting young people to the agriculture sector and assisting farmers, we are reducing the number of people flocking to cities. Moving forward, we must continue providing support and knowledge. Farmers across Peru have to understand what it takes to achieve long-term success. To that end, it is necessary to teach them the fundamentals of how to run a business. The government’s role over the next few years will be crucial to the success of the sector.
Which countries do you export to the most?
The biggest markets for emerging economies in Latin American are the US, the EU, and China. We want to further expand in the Chinese market because there is huge demand for raw materials. We already have the required sanitary protocols to export avocado and quinoa, which are in high demand for their nutritional properties. Rice is another product with great potential. We already export rice to Uruguay and are planning to export to Chile, Ecuador, and Mexico as well.
“Moving forward, we must continue providing support and knowledge.
Farmers across Peru have to understand what it takes to achieve long-term success. To that end, it is necessary to teach them the fundamentals of how to run a business.”