The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) announced on March 13 a series of measures aimed at protecting agricultural producers and preventing the effects of heavy rainfall, as part of efforts to ensure the success of the 2026 agricultural campaign and reduce risks in vulnerable areas.
These actions are important for safeguarding small-scale farmers and communities that depend on agriculture, especially in regions prone to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and intense rains. MIDAGRI said it is reinforcing interventions across various regions to minimize damage and maintain food production.
A key tool highlighted by MIDAGRI is the Agricultural Insurance SAC 2025-2026 policy, which covers more than two million hectares across all 24 departments nationwide. The insurance is fully funded by the state and targets mainly small family farmers. The total premium amounts to over 73 million soles. According to MIDAGRI, this insurance provides coverage against natural events including heavy rains, pests, fires, snowfalls, and landslides. So far, indemnities totaling S/10.6 million have been paid out to benefit 17,611 affected producers while further evaluations and payments continue.
In addition to insurance measures, MIDAGRI reported that through the National Water Authority (ANA), mitigation work is ongoing in Lima and northern regions vulnerable to flooding. This includes clearing more than 19 kilometers of riverbeds simultaneously using machinery deployed both in Lima (25 units) and northern Peru (over 70 units). In the Rimac River basin alone, more than 34 kilometers will be cleaned at 22 critical points over the coming months. These efforts aim to protect over 56,000 residents and more than 11,000 homes near major rivers.
In northern Peru—where summer rains are particularly intense—over 16 kilometers of rivers are being cleared in areas previously identified as high risk in Áncash, La Libertad, Piura, Lambayeque, and Tumbes. Despite recent reports showing that Rimac and Tumbes rivers reached red alert levels with flows of up to 122 cubic meters per second, ANA stated that no damages were recorded at intervention sites due to ongoing preventive work.
Further interventions include cleaning riverbeds and building dikes in Junín, Cusco, Puno, Pasco, and Arequipa through the Subsectoral Irrigation Program (PSI). These projects aim to prevent flooding by improving water flow capacity and strengthening community safety near rivers.
Regarding an emergency caused by the overflow of the Sankirhuato River in Ayna San Francisco district (La Mar), Ayacucho within VRAEM territory, MIDAGRI activated response protocols via PROVRAEM. The program delivered fuel for heavy machinery used in debris removal operations as well as bottled water for affected families.
