Farmer Day in Peru 2023: Date, History, Facts about Peruvian Food

President Augusto B. Leguia established Farmer Day in Peru in 1930 under the name Dia del Indio (Day of the Indian) to honour Peru's Indigenous people as a whole.

Every year on June 24, Peru celebrates Farmer Day, or Dia del Campesino, as a tribute to the hardworking local farmers who provide sustenance for every Peruvian. This day is commemorated by agricultural festivals, cultural displays, and, of course, the sharing of food. In the Amazonian region, Farmer Day is also observed in conjunction with the Feast of San Juan Bautista, or St. John the Baptist Day, as a nod to the Spanish missionaries’ introduction of the Catholic religion.

The background of Farmer Day

President Augusto B. Leguia established Farmer Day in Peru in 1930 under the name Dia del Indio (Day of the Indian) to honour Peru’s Indigenous people as a whole. In 1969, dictator General Juan Velasco Alvarado renamed the day “Dia del Campesino” (Day of the Farmer). General Alvarado also enacted the Agrarian Reform Law, which contributed to the diversification of land ownership and the abolition of forced Indigenous labour.

Currently, agriculture accounts for only about 13% of Peru’s gross domestic product. However, nearly one-third of the population is employed in agriculture. Additionally, there are presently 2,2 million small and medium-sized farms in the United States.

The agricultural output of Peru is extremely diverse. During the Neolithic period, the Andes region of South America was one of the most prolific areas for plant domestication. Ancient Andeans cultivated and utilised approximately 120 plant species to populate their fertile land, which was nearly ten times more than other ancient civilizations such as China and Egypt.

Consequently, Peru and the surrounding Andean region are renowned for their extraordinary agricultural diversity. It is one of the world’s leading producers of artichokes, rice, bananas, grapes, sugarcane, maize, and cassava, for example. Among the country’s primary agricultural exports are asparagus, avocado, blueberries, potatoes, pineapples, coffee, and cacao. The diversity of its output highlights Peru’s indispensable role in the global food supply system. Consequently, Dia del Campesino is significant because it is a formal recognition of Peruvian farmers and agricultural employees for their efforts to preserve the biodiversity of the land and to support the economy.

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5 FACTS TO CHEW ON ABOUT PERUVIAN FOOD

In the United States, over 3,000 varieties of potatoes are cultivated.

Guinea pig meat contains more protein than llama flesh and is a staple for many Peruvians.

Originating in Peru, the Lima bean is named after the capital city, Lima.

Numerous Peruvian recipes are influenced by Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian cuisines, and many national dishes are now regarded as fusions of all three.

Peru’s authentic lucuma fruit is said to taste like ice cream.