The Guanajato area is a hotspot for agriculture in Mexico and groundwater extraction outstrips natural recharge on an annual basis.

We are collaborating with the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) to investigate innovative agronomic practices that increase production levels and decrease costs, while making sustainable use of inputs, especially water. In the first year of investigation, we invited three farmers to work with us on our innovative research.

In the Guanajuato watershed, irrigation techniques used by barley farmers involve flooding the land, which unnecessarily wastes a great amount of water. Our goal is to promote conservation agriculture tools, generate new techniques and raise awareness among farmers about the use of water for irrigation. These goals will enable us to generate significant water savings and improve the quality of their crops while taking care of the environment. Aim is to reduce water consumption between 15 and 20% at plot level.

Project Results

Three methods have been tested during the pilots: drip irrigation, the use of drones to provide soil information, and the use of biological agrochemicals. By combining these three aspects, farmers have managed to reduce water consumption by 60% while increasing their yield by more than 10% at a reduced cost of 20%.