With the aim of facing the challenges of water stress and climate change, the Sierra Azul Fund Execution Unit (UEFSA), of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI), completed the construction of 29 qochas —or artificial lagoons— in the region from Apurimac and will execute 70 more for the benefit of the high Andean population.
The completed water planting and harvesting works included the construction of 43 km of infiltration ditches, which will improve the retention of water filtration in the soil, generating a positive impact on the recharge of aquifers, the prevention of soil erosion. soil and the conservation of water resources.
This way, Sierra Azul’s work will benefit 1,242 families in the high Andean areas of the districts of Tambobamba, Cotabambas, Coyllurqui and Mara, in the province of Cotabambasdedicated to the breeding of South American camelids, such as alpaca, vicuña and llama.
The works required a total investment of S/7.6 million, which will generate a volume of stored water of 816,892 cubic meters, benefiting 233.40 hectares. This also allowed the creation of 19,000 temporary employment days.
High Andean communities face extreme weather conditions and long dry periods (little rain) threaten their livelihoods. However, the planting and water harvesting work carried out by Sierra Azul represents a very important step in the adaptation and mitigation of these effects produced by climate change.
Works allowed the creation of 19,000 days of temporary employment. Photo: Midagri
More qochas, more water
On the other hand, Sierra Azul, under the modality of executing nuclei, will additionally build 70 qochas for the Apurímac region thanks to the budget of the Con Punche Perú Agro plan, which will benefit more than 3,000 families in the high Andean areas and will generate 2.7 million cubic meters of water volume.
The executing groups, made up of the same communities, will be in charge of managing the funds and executing the works, under the technical assistance in agricultural engineering and supervision of Sierra Azul.
Source: Larepublica
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