RAIN RUNOFF CATCHMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL, LIVESTOCK AND AQUACULTURE USE IN RAINFED AREAS: A successful case

Abstract

In the center of the state of Veracruz, México, the marked seasonality of rainfall determines that out of the 900 mm annually, 95 % takes place between June-September, and 5 % in October-May. Different regional diagnoses indicate that having water for auto-consumption and livestock, in addition to improving maize and bean production, are among the problems that the rural population is most interested in solving. With the hypothesis that it is possible to consolidate pilot projects, where technicians, producers and authorities can participate in coordination to generate innovation for local problem-solution, it was suggested to generate evidences of non-assistencialism actions for the massive construction of small receiving vessels for intermittent rain currents, with the goal of not affecting hydraulic storage or diverting works present and with the aim of reverting the lack of irrigation supply by using clean, non-contaminant, technologies. Through research-action and the participative approach, groups of producers were consolidated for the sustainable management of soil and water, rehabilitating a dam, and also designing and operating works for a floating outlet (mechanized siphon). The producers learned how to determine the moment and time for drip irrigation with tensiometers, as well as maintain the adequate pressures for the correct operation of the system. In 2012, 1.5 ha (three cycles per year) were fertigated with a yield of 5 ton ha^-1 per cycle and a bean plot in 0.4 ha that produced 1.8 ton ha^-1, with benefit-cost relation of 3:1. During each year maize was sold both on the cob and in grain. In 2012-2013, the same bean plot yielded 2.4 ton ha^-1 and in 2014, a 540 m2 plot produced 3.3 ton ha^-1. Since 2013, training is offered in the intensive production system of organic hydroponics with automatic sub-irrigation, without the use of pumps or timers. Additionally, 4000 tilapia were bred in the dam and currently 3 ha and 4 drinking troughs are in operation for the livestock.