Published on
17 January 2025

In the region of Cochabamba, where water is a scarce resource and rainfall irregular, the challenges of water management are numerous and persistent for both consumption and agriculture. This problem, which has been entrenched for decades, is exacerbated by rapid demographic growth and the consequences of climate change. Moreover, wastewater discharged into the nearby Rocha River is sometimes reused for agricultural irrigation, exposing producers and consumers to the risk of contamination and disease.



In the Indigenous community of Chururi, nestled in the Andes Mountains, women are on the frontlines in dealing with these challenges. Responsible for their households, they grapple daily with the consequences of water scarcity, as well as food insecurity due to low crop yields.

Against this backdrop, Fundación para la promocìon e investigacìon de productos andinos (Foundation for the Promotion and Research of Andean Produce) has launched the Rivers of Hope in Chururi project, which is committed to installing a sprinkler irrigation system. The aim is to revitalize the land and improve the harvests of the region’s 132 inhabitants. The Roncalli International Foundation’s contribution to this project allowed for the purchase of essential materials and equipment for the installation of the system.

 

 

 


In an environment where economic instability and massive water seepage compromised agricultural development, this initiative has rapidly become a beacon of hope and renewal. By replacing the old, archaic irrigation system, the project has opened up new horizons for the community, embodying the power of collective collaboration and environmental responsibility.

Developed in conjunction with the Chururi community, it is in keeping with an approach that respects nature, using sustainable practices and technologies.

The results are impressive: water losses, once abysmal at 73%, have been reduced; efficiency of water use now exceeds 90%; and arable land has gone from 13 to 87 hectares, ensuring greater food security and economic autonomy for the community.

Beyond these tangible achievements, the project has had a profoundly human effect. By ending the temporary migration of men in search of a livelihood, it has strengthened family and community ties, freed women and children from the burden of maintaining the old canals, and allowed them to engage in other activities.

 


The project is a testament to the transformation that becomes possible when compassion is combined with action. It has offered Chururi much more than a water supply for its land; it has given it a source of hope for the future.

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