Author(s): Paulina Lima; Efren Ortiz

Linked Author(s): Paulina R. Lima, Efren Ortiz

Keywords: Irrigation; Highland; Indegenous; Management; Catchment

Abstract: Most indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian paramo do not have an infrastructure for irrigation. Afterwards, a collaborative study project was developed between the community of Pull-Quishuar and the Central University of Ecuador (UCE) which started from a survey of information in different areas and determined the feasibility of the irrigation project through undergrad graduation projects in two phases: (a) hydrological, geographical and preliminary of meteorology, and (b) land data such soil mechanics, topographic and plot of land maps of the arable soils and conduction system. Currently, the Pull Quishuar community has 358 inhabitants and depends exclusively on seasonal agriculture for food self-sustenance. This community is located at 3736 m.a.s.l. In the Guamote canton, Chimborazo province, its average temperature is 8 ᵒC, its homes do not have thermal insulation or drinking water and sewerage services. This situation would improve by implementing an irrigation system that allows them to increase agricultural production and market their products; Therefore, it establishes the following research question: is it possible to establish an alternative that improves the agricultural area in an indigenous community in the paramo using the least number of resources? The four main elements of the project are: 1) The spring water is located on the other side of the highest point of the system, 2) it requires a pumping system to raise the water to a height of 380m, 3) due to the weather conditions it is possible to generate up to 37.15 kW using wind energy (20 km/h) for the pumping system, and 4) the design of irrigation uses a flow of 20 lt/s, with two models of sprinkler irrigation management of 35.17 ha that are distributed by parcels and equals. The methodology was based on: the compilation of information with the collaboration of the community labor (minga), cabinet work, proposal of alternatives, selection of the appropriate alternative, final design and technical economic feasibility analysis. The definitive design is composed by the sprinkler irrigation system with a 110mm diameter impulsion line, a conventional catchment, and two 148.24 kw/day wind turbine towers to supply two centrifugal pumps. Finally, using the multicriteria analysis methodology, it is concluded that this project is technically possible, it does not have an economic rate of return; however, socially it is indispensable. The UCE, through the graduates, carried out this study free of charge in order to support the community; it is expected that there are governmental entities and NGOs that will be able to support the financing of this project.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/IAHR-39WC252171192022629

Year: 2022