PER/11/072 - Clean drinking water project and for agriculture

Objective: To provide water for drinking and horticultural purposes to a remote hilly area

Background: The Rotary Club de La Molina has been carrying out a series of education and food security projects. The beneficiaries of this project are mainly women as most of the men have migrated to urban centres. All are rural peasants, but only 10% own their own land, with an average size of 0.50 ha. With the help of the Rotary Club, the peasants have formed a cooperative (registered) called the “Asociación de Productores Agroecológicos los Emprendedores de Kañaris”. One of the main problems is the lack of water for drinking, agricultural production, pisciculture and horticulture. Ninety percent of the children in the area suffer from chronic malnutrition due to lack of protein and vitamins, which could be provided by the fish and vegetables expected from the project. The present irrigation system covers only 50% of the populations needs. Ninety-four percent of the area under cultivation is arid as the water supply is insufficient. Civil engineering works to bring the water up to the inlet of the elevated aqueduct are already in place. The aqueduct will convey 100 l/sec that will be used for irrigation of the sloping land. The original idea of an inverted siphon to cross the creek was dropped because the creek is too deep. The alternative engineering solution is to convey the water via two lines of PVC pipes which will be supported by cables. As the water is flowing at high elevations, it will be diverted by individual farmers by drip and/or sprinkler irrigation. Fernando Chanduvi, an ex FAO SM now working with FAO in Peru, visited the area (a remote village at an altitude of around 800 m above sea level, in a mountainous area) which he considered had a lot of agricultural potential once the villagers have this badly needed water supply. He would be responsible for following up on the project on behalf of the Rotary Club. The provision of water would mean that 70 families of the population of Palo Blanco-Kañaris would have drinking water. The incorporation of the 200 ha in a drip irrigation system would mean that 80% could be devoted to subsistence agriculture and 20% to organic growth of avocados for selling.

Use of Funds: Funds will be used towards pipes, cables, anchors, wood supports, cement, etc.

Beneficiaries: Unknown