Water for irrigation in Achocalla

LOCATION: Municipality Achocalla
PERIOD: 2009 – 2010
PICTURES: -
DESCRIPTION:
To improve the agricultural production and the income of communities in Achocalla, by catching more rain water, and by improving the infrastructure of the traditional irrigation systems.

Problem:

The current activities of agriculture and cattle breeding produce too little income for the communities of Achocalla. As a result the inhabitants leave to search employment in the cities La Paz and El Alto. The restricted production is caused by a lack of water and a big dependence on the rainy season. A large quantity of water is lost because of the bad state of the existing irrigation infrastructure.

Solution:

The solutions depend on the area (river valley or highland) and the current situation in communities (existing irrigation or no irrigation at all). For this reason specific plans have been made for each community. Examples of concrete measures in the plans are:
- Repair leaks in head canals to make the flow speed raise;
- Storage of water in reservoirs of reinforced concrete;
- Storage of water by means of weir in a river;
- Use of underground water stocks using water wells;
- Training the farmers in the use and management of the irrigation system.

Result:

The people in the communities have access to improved water supplies, as a result of which the turnovers of agriculture and the cattle will be higher. The farmers are able to use water optimally for the different forms of agriculture. Furthermore they are able to manage the irrigation system durably and to do technical maintenance.

FUNDING: Chakana; Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Municipality of Achocalla; Joannes Bosco Foundation.