Optimization of water use in the flood irrigation system of organic bananas, used by small producers in the Chira Valley, Piura

Description

In recent years, the Peruvian agribusiness sector has experienced significant growth, with the Piura region being one of its main drivers. The primary crops exported from Piura are table grapes, mangoes, and organic bananas. Among the most notable factors highlighting the enormous potential of the agro-export industry in Piura is the rapid growth of certain crops, such as table grapes, whose production levels have surpassed those of the Ica region, and mangoes, whose production levels have positioned Peru as the fourth largest producer worldwide, displacing Brazil. These achievements are explained by the high level of research and technology that has accompanied the production of these crops. However, this is not yet the case for the organic banana sector, where a technological gap exists due to several factors, including the limited access to research and innovation for small-scale producers, particularly those in the Chira Valley. This work focuses on the design of an optimized flood irrigation, using real data of the variables that affect the organic banana production process and measuring the influence that the timely use of water has on the final characteristics of the crop and its productivity through a mathematical model.

Financier

Fondecyt – BIM.

Coordinator

Susana Vegas.

Administrative coordinator

Carolina Cueva.

Technical team

Susana Vegas, Valeria Quevedo, Eduardo Sánchez, Erick Miñán, Paúl Guerrero, Hugo Fiestas, Milagros Pasache, Justo Oquelis.