The Ministry of Environment and Energy announced on March 13 the delivery of technical approvals, compliance reports, and administrative resolutions that enable the execution of irrigation and drainage projects worth more than USD 3.3 million in the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe. These initiatives are promoted by local governments to strengthen agricultural production and ensure access to water in rural areas.
In Zamora Chinchipe, two agricultural drainage projects presented by the Provincial Government will be developed. The initiatives include expanding and improving agricultural drainage systems as well as constructing new drains for productive units, with an investment of USD 949,698.20. The projects are expected to benefit 175 families and rehabilitate 503.86 hectares of productive land in areas such as Machinatza Alto, Wachapa, El Padmi, Nanguipa Bajo y Alto, Nuevo Quito, Los Almendros, San Francisco, Bellavista, and Santa Cruz.
During the events, administrative resolutions and enabling documents were also delivered for community water management. These included legal status recognitions for organizations, registrations for potable water board leaderships, and authorizations for use and exploitation of water resources. Such documentation allows communities to regularize their status and access financing or cooperation processes.
In Loja province, two irrigation projects submitted by the Provincial Government were authorized with a total value of USD 2,422,731.98. The projects involve building secondary networks for the Cera – Buenavista – Ingapirca Canal Irrigation System and improving the Chuchuchir Irrigation System (Phase I). These interventions will rehabilitate or improve irrigation infrastructure across 382.41 hectares directly benefiting 555 families engaged in family farming in Loja and Saraguro cantons.
Additionally, authorities delivered 44 enabling documents related to water resource management in Loja province—such as legal recognitions for organizations, leadership registrations, technical approvals, terms of reference, and improvement plans for potable water boards or irrigation groups. Administrative procedures benefiting community organizations reached a total of 25 cases impacting about 2,206 families (8,962 people), while technical processes are expected to support future water projects reaching up to 15,585 families (77,923 people) throughout the province.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Energy statement: “With these actions…the Ministry strengthens integrated management of water resources through issuing technical and administrative authorizations that allow local governments and community organizations to develop projects improving access to water, agricultural production and well-being in rural communities across southern Ecuador.”
