Small holder’s production systems and social irrigation management: the Acequia Mocha-Huachi case.

Abstract

This study analyzes the production systems and carries out an evaluation of the social management of irrigation in the Mocha-Huachi canal in order to find out the situation faced by the small-scale farmers using water resources for productive purposes. We describe the process of conformation of the water board and characteristics such as legitimacy, democracy and management. In addition, five types of representative producers of the area of influence of the canal were determined, ranging from smallholders with plots smaller than 0.5 ha to farmers with plots larger than 4 ha. To characterize each type of farmer, the following criteria were used: availability and destination of family labor, labor force used in agricultural production, agricultural income, nonfarm income and profit. The main results show that: i) the organization has medium to high level of legitimacy granted by the users, leaders and external actors, which has enabled the board to have access to public and private support, however, smallholders face socioeconomic problems that go beyond the actions of the water board; ii) family labor has declined by about 50% in all categories of users; iii) agricultural incomes range from US $ 4 to US $ 11 per day; iv) trends indicate a progressive increase of nonagricultural activities by new generations and a recent process of land sale for recreation purposes.