Why does Peru import large amounts of food?

Peru imports significant quantities of food—including grain, rice, maize, soy, vegetable oils, and dairy products—primarily because its domestic agricultural output is insufficient to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding population.12

Several geographic and environmental factors contribute to this reliance on imports:

• Scarcity of Arable Land: The availability of land suitable for farming is an extremely limiting factor in Peru. Much of the terrain is rugged, and fertile valleys are often narrow and small.13
• Environmental Challenges: Agricultural systems are frequently disrupted by natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, and the El Niño phenomenon, which can cause severe damage to infrastructure and crops.2
• Difficult Growing Conditions: In the Sierra region, soil fertility is generally low, and crops are often subject to freezing temperatures and irregular rainfall.13

While the government has pursued various development and agrarian reform initiatives to improve output and modernize the sector, these geographic constraints continue to necessitate the importation of foodstuffs to ensure food security.12