CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE IN PERU

This report, commissioned by the UNDP and implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), assesses climate risks and risk management capacity in Peru, specifically focusing on the agricultural sector in the regions of Junín and Piura. It combines scientific data with community consultations to identify vulnerabilities and propose integrated strategies for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.

• Peru's agricultural sector is characterized by fragmented land tenure and low competitiveness, divided into modern, traditional, internal market, and subsistence subsectors. The government aims for a 7 percent annual growth rate in the sector to reduce rural poverty and create employment.
• Interannual climate variability in Peru is primarily driven by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which causes droughts in the highlands and increased temperatures and precipitation on the coast. Other key hazards include floods, frost, cold waves, and heat waves.
• Observed climate trends from 1965 to 2006 show a temperature increase of 0.2º C per decade across most of the territory. Glacial surface area decreased by 22 percent over the last 35 years, and sea levels are rising, though short-term ENSO fluctuations often mask long-term trends.
• Climate projections for 2030 indicate warming of approximately 1.6º C in the northern Andes and Amazon, with precipitation reductions of 10 to 20 percent projected for the Andes and potential increases of similar magnitude for the coast and Amazon.
• In the Mantaro River basin (Junín), frost and 'veranillos' (meteorological droughts during the rainy season) significantly impact maize and potato yields. A 2007 frost event reduced potato and maize yields by an average of 12.8 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively.
• In the Piura River basin, positive ENSO phases are associated with yield reductions of 20 percent or more for rice, cotton, and mangoes. Projections suggest that by 2030, mango yields could decrease by nearly 25 percent due to warming trends exceeding optimal temperature ranges during flowering.
• Local communities in Junín and Piura report increased frequency of droughts, frost, and landslides, leading to livestock and crop loss. While some sustainable coping strategies like crop diversification and rainwater harvesting exist, overall adaptive capacity is limited by poverty and a lack of institutional governance.
• Peru's climate risk management is split between the National System for Disaster Risk Management (SINAGERD), managed by CENEPRED and INDECI, and climate change affairs managed by the Ministry of Environment (MINAM). There is a lack of formal coordination mechanisms between the disaster risk management and climate change adaptation communities.
• Climate data collection in Peru is hindered by the fact that over 1,100 weather stations are operated by different organizations, are geographically concentrated (skewed toward the coast and highlands), and are mostly read manually.
• Recommended priority actions for agriculture include reviving ancestral methods (e.g., using organic fertilizers and topographical planning), expanding irrigation and small-scale water reservoirs, improving access to agricultural insurance, and establishing a centralized Agricultural Information System.

APA

Keller, M., & Echeverria, D. (2013). CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE IN PERU. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_peru.pdf

Chicago

Keller, Marius, and Daniella Echeverria. CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE IN PERU. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2013. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_peru.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Keller |first1=Marius |last2=Echeverria |first2=Daniella |title=CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE IN PERU |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=January 2013 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_peru.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{keller2013climate, author = {Keller, Marius and Echeverria, Daniella}, title = {{CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE IN PERU}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2013}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_peru.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }