en.Wedoany.com Reported - Peru is enhancing the international competitiveness of its cotton through technical exchanges with Egypt and Colombia. A technical mission, promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and supported by Peru's Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI), took place from July 6 to 17, aiming to foster sustainability, certification, and traceability in the cotton value chain. During a stopover in Lima, the delegation was received by Orlando Chirinos, Vice Minister of Family Farming Development and Agricultural Infrastructure and Irrigation at MIDAGRI, who emphasized the importance of strengthening international cooperation to promote a more sustainable, competitive, and coordinated cotton value chain for the benefit of family farming.

The core of this technical mission is to learn from Egypt's authoritative experience in the production and marketing of extra-long staple cotton. Egypt's certification systems, quality standards, digital traceability, and commercial differentiation mechanisms have made its cotton a globally recognized high-value product. The delegation met with representatives of companies affiliated with Peru's National Industrial Society (SNI), gaining direct insights into Egypt's practices in certification, traceability, and fiber quality positioning. The agenda also included a visit to the Gamarra commercial center to examine the craftsmanship and quality of textiles made from Peruvian Pima cotton, one of the most prestigious raw materials in Peru's textile industry.

Currently, the delegation is conducting activities in the Piura region, including a visit to Catacaos and meetings with local producers. With support from Peru's National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA) and MIDAGRI, experts from Egypt and Colombia are gaining a close-up understanding of the characteristics of Peruvian cotton, the progress of family farming, and the challenges in enhancing market competitiveness. FAO noted that this exchange connects the strengths of the three countries: Egypt provides knowledge on certification and international positioning, Colombia shares innovations to improve the sustainability and governance of the production chain, and Peru contributes its experience in producing high-quality fiber.

This initiative is part of the regional project +Algodón (+Cotton), implemented under the Brazil-FAO South-South Cooperation Program. For over a decade, the project has been dedicated to strengthening the cotton value chain, improving fiber quality, and coordinating producers, industry, and the public sector in Latin America. Through coordination between FAO and MIDAGRI, Peru is leveraging the experience that has made Egyptian cotton a globally renowned product, opening new possibilities for increasing the value-added of the value chain, creating trade opportunities, and benefiting thousands of cotton-growing families.