August 7, 2024
Cerro Verde’s efforts to support agricultural development near the site have been recognized by a national organization that promotes such work.
The Association of Agricultural Producers Guilds of Peru (AGAP) recently presented Cerro Verde with its 2024 Sustainability Award, honoring the site for its support of agricultural development in La Joya, Arequipa. The award was given at AGAP’s annual AgroFest event in Lima in July.
The Cerro Verde-funded program, which started in 2022, promotes a range of environmentally friendly practices to help improve agricultural activity in the area. For example, a greater emphasis was placed on using organic pesticides, which has resulted in the production of fruits, vegetables and tubers (the storage stems of certain seed plants) free of chemical pesticides. These organic pesticides, produced by local farmers, also have helped reduce pest control costs by 36 percent.
In addition, Cerro Verde’s project has helped increase agricultural production by 8 percent and reduce production costs by 12 percent.
So far, the program has reached more than 500 agricultural producers; facilitated more than 28,000 technical consultations; and trained nearly 200 agricultural experts in fruit tree pruning, fumigation and primary actions associated with veterinary emergencies.
In addition to assisting area agriculture, the program has gained the support of various local and national organizations, said Pablo Alcázar, Manager of Public and Community Affairs-Cerro Verde.
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