Key water harvesting in drought-scarce conditions

Every drop of water counts towards the shortage predicted for the last quarter of 2023 first half of 2024, especially for agricultural producers whose activity is completely dependent on this item.

Year after year in Panama, the dry season leaves producers with economic losses and uncertainty about the profitability of their economic activities, a situation exacerbated by the threat El Niño phenomenon, characterized by failure and food shortages, due to a lack of foresight, public policies and training of producers.

Panama comes from a La Niña phenomenonwhere you had to run because the areas were flooded, except that it is a country where it rains a lot, but this excess water was not capitalized by the producers, the water they will need today, he recognizes Technical Secretary of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, Roy Frías.

Frías claims that this reality has driven the Panamanian producer to the bottom and he is sure that it will mark the before and after in terms of his preparation to face the climate reality.

But, What does the state offer in terms of agricultural policy? Roy referred to the Drought Plan, which was created in response to government resolution no. 48 of May 30, 2023, which declared a state of emergency for the environment at the national level.

The drought plan is divided into three phases that include an information phase with the establishment of agroclimatic tables at the national level where timely climate information is shared to facilitate preparation and resource management.

In its second phase called mitigation, it involves securing a precious resource with the construction of more than 2,400 water troughs across the country, which will allow water management through a water collection system, the product of the rains in September and October, and which will allow us to mitigate the effects of the dry season that is approaching in January and May 2024, explained the expert.’

5 dollars

million considering the Water Harvesting Plan with the construction of water troughs and irrigation systems.

2 USD

million which is distributed to support producers in the agricultural sector.

Are they watered with a capacity for more than 2 thousand liters of water, with 500 cubic meters of reserve capacity. To date, 2,328 have been built.

Likewise, the delivery of an irrigation kit accompanied by water reserve systems, which enable the harvesting of water for agricultural irrigation, is being considered.

In the case of sectors that do not have a water source nearby, they are installed Deep wells which supply water to reservoir systems. The wells have been part of the ongoing MIDA program since 2019, with the construction of more than 2,172 across the country, Frías explained.

At the national level, irrigation systems such as Coclé Irrigation System, Remigio Rojas in Chiriquí, Cordillera Risk System and Alto Bambitowhich will enable high efficiency of agricultural production in the dry period.

The drought plan injects nearly $5 million into engineering areas, where all irrigation systems and watering hole openings are located. On average, 3 million dollars for livestock areas and 2 million dollars for agricultural areas. The extension until the month of May will enable urgent procurement, through the rationalization of procurement, along with timely solutions for producers, according to the technical secretary of MIDA.

The drought plan benefits around 16,000 producers between building watering holes, training and delivering seeds and inputs on a permanent basis, Frías sums up.

80% of the national production is from family farming and own consumption which are supported by good capital and inputs to be able to sustain their production during the dry season.

For large producers, financial instruments have been developed at the National Bank and the Bank for Agricultural Development for climate change with 0% and 2% interest to install water storage and management systems, Frías explained.

Manufacturer support

The third phase of the Drought Plan, related to support for producers, began in Chiriquí with the distribution of drought-adapted seeds, fertilizers, irrigation kits, wells and more than 500 units of hay to supplement animal nutrition.

The program includes training so producers can develop protein and energy banks, which are cultivated areas of permanent forage that can withstand dry seasons, Frías said.

Frías believes that incentives and financial instruments to create installed capacity in the water administration will create awareness among Panamanian producers.

Panama has a lot of water, with more than 50 hydrographic basins, with 2 thousand millimeters of rain per year, 600 millimeters in the dry season, and this excess of water has not awakened the need for water management, a reality that takes its toll on national production, concludes Frías.