At the annual meeting of the irrigation industry, the President of AGRYD called for accelerating investments in infrastructure, reducing fragmentation and increasing coordination between institutions linked to water, and for changes to the irrigation law.
Drought and climate change were words that were repeated at Expo AGRYD, the event of the Irrigation and Drainage Trade Association, held on September 5. The lack of water is strongly impacting agriculture and the sector is asking the authorities to give priority to this problem. According to Guillermo Donoso, President of AGRYD, “The current balance of surface water between the Atacama and Biobío regions indicates a structural water deficit to meet irrigation demands. However, the country has not invested significantly in adaptation measures for agriculture.”
For the AGRYD helmsman, it is urgent to make investments for water storage. “The government is trying to address this with a reservoir plan. However, it is going too slowly. Greater agility is required in the development and execution of small dams or investments to infiltrate water into our groundwater. These works are quick to execute and have a lower environmental impact,” he stated.
Donoso indicated that adequate water policies and institutions are required. “The fragmentation of powers and functions between the different public and private entities, and the lack of coordination between them, have prevented an effective, transparent and secure institutionality that supports agriculture and allows it to face multiple challenges,” he assured.
He also had words for the modifications to Law No. 18,450 on the Promotion of Private Investment in Irrigation and Drainage Works, approved by Congress in August of this year. He stated that the union sees risks in these changes, which could generate irreversible effects on national agriculture. “Incorporating aspects that differ from the primary objective of the standard creates difficulties for its application, significantly reduces the population that can access its benefits, limiting the future development of technological agriculture,” he added.
Legislative changes and technologies
The event included a dozen presentations, many of which reviewed the latest legislative changes regarding water: the reform of the Water Code, the Framework Law on Climate Change and the modifications to Law No. 18,450.
Particular interest was generated by a panel that brought together lawyer Sebastián Leiva, businessman Gonzalo Arellano and the Executive Secretary of the National Irrigation Commission, Wilson Ureta. In the session, Ureta presented the main modifications to the law, while the other two participants indicated their disagreement with these modifications. As lawyer Sebastián Leiva pointed out, “It is a bad law, but it is better to have it.”
Technology and innovation were also the protagonists of this activity carried out with the support of the Directorate of Export Promotion (ProChile). Irrigation, automation and monitoring technologies were discussed to make better use of water, reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural projects and increase crop productivity. Some of these national technologies are using artificial intelligence, Machine learning and big data, and are being exported to other markets.
The activity is part of the internationalization strategy that AGRYD has been developing for three years, supported by Prochile, with the aim of opening markets and positioning the Chilean irrigation industry in Latin American and US markets. “According to ProChile estimates, around 301% of our irrigation companies export. We want to increase that percentage. A lot of irrigation knowledge and technology is being developed in Chile, which has good opportunities abroad. In fact, this year we are preparing a trade mission to the US to learn about the commercial opportunities for the different products and services that our country offers.”, said José Miguel Morán, General Manager of AGRYD.
About AGRYD
The Chilean Irrigation and Drainage Association, AGRYD (https://www.agryd.cl/), is an organization that since 2008 represents companies and professionals who manufacture, market, install and use irrigation and drainage equipment, as well as those who research or advise on its use.
AGRYD promotes technologies that make efficient use of water and energy, and has encouraged the use of environmentally friendly energy sources in this equipment.
AGRYD partners currently design and install more than 90% of the country's irrigation infrastructure, which places the association as the main reference for this industry in Chile.
