World Bank Supports Irrigation Projects in Peru to Help Small Farmers Cope With the Effects of Climate Change

 The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a loan to support irrigation projects that address the effects of climate change in Peru. The US$100 million financing will support the Government’s efforts to modernize and make irrigation systems more efficient thereby benefiting small farmers and rural communities.

The investment will be implemented by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation through 130 subprojects and will directly benefit some 24,000 persons. The project will also provide technical assistance to optimize water management for irrigation in 19 regions and will strengthen the institutions responsible for irrigation systems by improving their management capacity.

Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.