Bolivia ramps up irrigation investments

Facing the dry season, Bolivia is pushing ahead with irrigation projects in the central and southern highlands.

The government plans to invest 120mn bolivianos (US$17mn) this year in irrigation systems in La Paz department, part of the Mi Riego program, the head of state investment fund FPS, Wilson Calle, said.

A call for bids for construction contracts in 30 municipalities is scheduled for next month, Calle told state news agency ABI. The fund financed 40 irrigation projects last year, he said.

President Evo Morales’ government has invested 20bn bolivianos in the water and irrigation sector since 2006, more than tripling the amount spent from 1997-2005, according to the environment and water ministry.

Morales earlier this week opened the 70.3mn-boiliviano Pitulillo irrigation system in Chuquisaca department’s Zudáñez municipality, as part of the Proar irrigation program.

Built by state agency Emagua, the system features a 3.9Mm3 reservoir and 41.5km of water pipelines, the ministry said in a statement. It will irrigate 400ha, benefitting 248 families, according to the ministry.