8TH “LECTURE SERIES PERU” HELD IN CHICLAYO SET THE TOPIC OF AGRO-EXPORTS FOR DISCUSSION AND RESTATED THE SOCIAL COMMITMENT OF USMP WITH THE COUNTRY

In the context of the first academic activities organized for the opening of the new university campus in the city of Chiclayo, the 8th “Lecture Series Peru” (VII Cátedra Perú) was held, and its topic was: “Peru: an Agro-exporting Country”. It is the first time a lecture session like this takes place at a decentralized level, yet another demonstration of USMP’s commitment to bring together society and university.
The main goal of the meeting was to present the different economic proposals the main political groups have on the subject of the agricultural and agro-export sector, when one of these groups assumes power in July this year.
The 8th “Lecture Series Peru” in Chiclayo was opened by Yehude Simon Munaro, President of the Regional Government, who declared that development cannot exist without agro-exports. “Our future lies in agriculture, tourism and exports”. He also pinpointed the need for a decentralization that involves the State, investment and competitiveness. “We must accelerate our country’s decentralization process; improve education and the quality of justice, and better the infrastructure. We need to bring development to agriculture.”
In his turn, Augusto Mellado, Vice-Chancellor of our University, sustained that “Lecture Series Peru” is a permanent means of reflection and that it has a strictly academic approach, without taking sides for any political party. He also stated that USMP has undertaken an academic responsibility with Chiclayo, and promised to inaugurate the facilities in La Pradera within a few weeks, so as to assist its more than 800 new students.

Among the debate’s many contributions, Mr Iván Juscamaita’s address stood out, with a business point of view. He stated that the success of agro-exports growth is based on the capability of establishing associations and strategic alliances. He claimed that the first steps for agro-export begin when businessmen give the

funding necessary for exporters to invest on seed development.
About the future of agriculture, he pointed out that it lies on exporting aromatic plants, aromatic products, native Andean products, fresh produce, and citrus and floral products. That is why, he said, we must focus on issues like supply chain management, technological innovation, integrating production chains, paying attention to changes in consumer taste, and having Peru as a halt in international trade.
During his turn, Dr. Daniel Abugattás, from Partido Nacionalista established the need for a National Development Plan for agro-exports. Its mission will be that of developing an articulate, competitive and sustainable agriculture activity, which will include small producers and foster agro-industrial processes. Its mission will also be to provide entrepreneurs and organized farmers with the appropriate taxing, financial and technological conditions. “We will defend the domestic producer against subsidized exports”, he stated.
Similarly, Gastón Benza from Partido Aprista Peruano, remarked that in the past five years, exports have contributed to employment. He highlighted that the boom of non-traditional exports contributes to promote decentralized employment. He claimed that Partido Aprista Peruano has proposed sector-oriented policies to favor those sectors that make use of manpower. In addition, he mentioned the “Plan Sierra Exportadora” (a proposal to develop the agro-industry in the Peruvian highlands) in which 150 thousand hectares would be used to create jobs for 300 thousand people.
In the same way, Edmundo del Águila from Frente de Centro, stated that in order to achieve the objectives of his party’s government plan, they will implement an integral, decentralized and participative development model, with a real presence of regional and local governments which will guide farmers in education programs, transference of technology and research. Among other policies, he proposed to reinstate research and experimenting programs, to give technical assistance, to foster the creation of organizations, tariff policies that will promote the technification of agriculture and registering the property of land in order for it to be subject to “agricultural” pledge; expansion of the agricultural frontier; rural electrification; fostering agribusiness and agro-exports.

Finally, Enrique Balmaceda Amorrortu, from Unidad Nacional, diagnosed the current situation of agriculture by pointing out that 30% of Peruvian people depend on agriculture. He therefore stated that among the goals of their government plan they aim at developing an economically competitive and profitable agriculture, training farmers to make then capable of generating wealth; making the most of soil and water resources; turning investment on agriculture into a profitable business; making it reach an increase in the GDP; and expanding good quality education onto rural areas, in addition to health care.
During the round of comments, Mr. Germán Fernández Castro, president of the Lambayeque Chamber of Commerce and Production (Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Lambayeque), commented on the need to focus on two main issues: improving education and generating job opportunities. “We need the government to create a legal framework where entrepreneurs and not the political parties are responsible for giving jobs.” He also claimed that there are a million hectares of land suitable for agriculture in the north of the country, and that the water resource is being used in an anti-technical way. He also proposed that formality should be encouraged, since 80% of the agricultural sector is informal. According to him, instead of being only 3 million Peruvians who pay their taxes, there should be 5 to 8 million. In that way we would be fighting poverty and lack of education.
 The speakers who participated in the event were: Mr. Iván Juscamaita, on behalf of Alfonso Velásquez, Ex-Minister of Production; Mr. Daniel Abugattás, for Partido Nacionalista; Mr. Gastón Benza Pflucker for Partido Aprista Peruano; Mr. Edmundo del Águila for Frente de Centro; and Mr. Enrique Balmaceda for Unidad Nacional. In addition, Mr. Germán Fernández Castro, president of the Lambayeque Chamber of Commerce and Production contributed with his comments.
In the last months the export growth rates of certain Peruvian products have reached important levels. This–according to experts– should allow us to be optimistic about the future of agro-exports, but only if the right economic and regulatory conditions are set. This will depend on the actions to be taken by the upcoming government regarding a fundamental sector such as the agro-exports.
During the sessions “General Elections 2006”, the 8th “Lecture Series Peru”, academic forum of USMP, dealt with the topic: “Peru: an Agro-exporting Country”. It was organized in agreement with the Organization of American States (OAS), in an alliance with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and in co-ordination with the Regional Government of Lambayeque. The session took place on Thursday, March 9th at 5:30 p.m. in the “Señorial” conference hall, Gran Hotel Chiclayo.