Impacts of irrigation technology in peasant family production systems

The purpose of the study was to analyze the social, economic and productive impact of the implementation of technical irrigation in two communities of the Cevallos Canton, Province of Tungurahua. For this purpose, surveys were applied to irrigators in the communities of El Rosal (traditional irrigation) and San Pedro (technical plot irrigation). The community of El Rosal does not have a technical irrigation water system. The community of San Pedro implemented a sprinkler irrigation system five years ago. The variables analyzed were age, sex, appreciation of the organization of irrigators, conflicts, income improvement and types of crops, among others. The results show that the average age of the farmers in the two communities was 60 years. In San Pedro: irrigation frequency was reduced to 8 days; 85% indicated that the organization of irrigators improved; 75% indicated the absence of conflicts; 34% improved their economic income; 3% said that they have uncultivated lots. Meanwhile, in El Rosal the shifts are every 15 days, 35% have uncultivated plots, 46% mentioned that conflicts between very frequent and infrequent occur. The research provides elements for the development of new irrigation water technification projects in the area.