Incoder to irrigate 33,300ha in Tolima

Colombia's rural development agency Incoder aims to execute irrigation programs in Tolima department this year to benefit 8,000 families and 33,300ha, according to information on the presidential website. Also as part of 2005 plans, Incoder plans to help install irrigation systems in La Guajira department to benefit 1,500 families and 18,800ha, the presidency said. "The government carries out these efforts to consolidate areas with irrigation potential, which total 9.0Mha, having already completed 800,000ha," Incoder CEO Arturo Vega Varón said. "This year the priority is to work on projects already underway." In 2004, Incoder invested 31.9bn pesos (US$13.7mn) in irrigation nationwide, while Colombia as a whole pumped 36.5bn pesos into irrigation. "We are executing the credit approved by the Inter-American Development Bank to build and upgrade irrigation districts and to date we have finished 22 new irrigation districts,* the CEO said. The new districts cover 3,131ha distributed in 67 projects.