The intense rainfall recorded in the country, particularly in Lambayeque, Piura, and Tumbes, has raised concerns in the agricultural sector.
Portalfruticola.com has spoken with meteorologist Héctor Yauri, a specialist from the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology of Peru (SENAMI) in the Piura department, who analyzed the situation and provided some recommendations to the producers in the area.
He explained that the situation in the northern region was very different in 2024, “as we were affected by a severe drought, which impacted the agricultural sector”.
He specified that last year was very hot. “In northern Peru, there was a deficiency of rainfall, and as a result, the levels in the reservoirs were very low, added to by the forest fires”, he said.
The meteorologist explained that in the Piura department, a total of 12,000 hectares were affected, with damages exceeding 82 million soles. Regarding the crops most affected, he mentioned that rice and lemons were the most damaged.
By 2025, the first 15 days of February showed some significant changes, with unusual warming. “We are in the context of the La Niña phenomenon, and in the last two months, there has been a slight cooling”.
Peru Begins the Year with Rainy Season
“This is how we begin this year with a new period of rains. However, from the first days of February, there was a very important change that settled during the second week of February, with an abrupt warming that appeared off the northern coast of Peru”, he explained.
Given the change in weather conditions, Yauri pointed out that the rains became more intense in Tumbes and Piura, also spreading to the central and southern regions of Peru. He stated that it is not only a coastal warming but has affected a large part of the coastline.
The commission studying the El Niño phenomenon reported that the warming could last throughout March, “however, it is now believed that it could even last until April”.
Due to the intense rains, he specified that “in Lambayeque and Tumbes, we have experienced very strong flooding, surpassing the flood threshold”.
He added that “we expect significant rains to continue, so the risk of flooding, the activation of ravines, and the impact on crops is quite high”.
From another perspective, the meteorologist sees a positive side to the rainfall, “since it guarantees a good amount of water that can be stored in reservoirs, so after this rainy period, there will be water availability to ensure agricultural activity in the following months”.
Another aspect the specialist analyzed is that, due to the high temperatures, there is an increase in humidity in the environment “and that is also associated with pests”.
When asked about the crops that could be affected, he indicated that these include rice, lemon, banana, and mango. The latter is already being harvested and is the main export product from the northern region.
Guidelines for Managing the Impact of the Rainfall
The agricultural industry has long been aware that climate change is here to stay. An example of this is the occurrence of unusual or extreme weather phenomena.
In Yauri’s view, climate variations in northern Peru have typically been characterized by a moderate climate, which has been favorable for productivity, despite intense rainfall.
He explained that in the northern region, many crops are part of agricultural exports, “which were implemented precisely due to the regularity and stability of the climate. However, in recent years, these climate changes and their variations are obviously influencing the behavior and physiology of crops”.
In this regard, he recommended “studying the changes and utilizing agrometeorological information from short, medium, and long-term forecasts to adapt management practices. And most importantly, staying informed about the situation”.
It is also crucial to conduct monitoring in the implementation of tools, “to see how they affect crop behavior”.
Finally, he emphasized the importance of generating databases, “so that in the future, we can try to link these climate changes with crop behavior to prevent, anticipate, and propose new strategies and management practices”.
Source: Portalfruticola.com
