Scenario of agricultural hydric demand for the irrigation optimization for small producers from the flat lands of the Guabas river basin

Abstract

The Association of Users of the Guabas River basin (ASOGUABAS), in
agreement with the research group on integral management of irrigation
for agricultural development and food security (WATER) from Univer-
Sara Marcela Paz1
Valen tina Muñoz Agudelo2
Andrés Fernan do Echeverri S3
Norberto Urrutia Cobo4
Recibido: 01-10-2012 Aceptado: 14-11-2012
6
sidad del Valle, conducted a study to determine the
water demand of small producers from the flat area
of the drainage basin of the Guabas River, as a first
step toward efficient use of water.
Climatic and cartographic information was collected
of the flat area of the municipalities of Guacarí
and Ginebra, department of Valle del Cauca. Subsequently,
the agricultural zone of each property
was determined by using geo-global positioning
technology. The water needs of crops, contribution
of rainfall, needs of irrigation, and water demand on
a monthly level were calculated.
Results indicate that, according to the behavior of the
evapo-transpiration and precipitation in the study area, two
times of irrigation needs exist associated to rain periods
(bimodal behavior). In addition, it was identified that the
current demand is high due to the poor state of infrastructure
in existing water distribution channels; hence, despite
having irrigation methods located on the farms, a critical
module of irrigation of 0.85 ls-1 is present. On the basis of
the above, a simulation of a scenario of demand improving
the efficiencies of the transmission and distribution system
of irrigation water was performed and a critical module of
0.4 ls-1 was achieved.