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Urbanisation and irrigation channels in BoliviaThe Tiquipaya valley in the urban area of Cochabamba in Bolivia has for fifteen years been facing rapid and uncontrolled urban expansion which affects the traditional collective irrigation systems for the region's agriculture which crisscross the valley. Degrading infrastructures, obstructing canals and access roads and evacuating wastewater into canals affect the functionning of irrigation systems and put farmers off from carrying out regular maintenance. The proposed approach, based on recognition of the dual irrigation and drainage function of canals in this area, aimed to facilitate the development of negotiations between farmers and urban residents on the issue of maintaining irrigation canals. It was organised in five stages.
Although the infrastructure projects could not find financing and were not pursued, the approach as a whole drew attention to the dual role of canals in the area and modified the representations of local stakeholders and the authorities. Thus the Tiquipaya municipal authority has allocated a small budget item to maintaining irrigation canals and the federation of irrigator associations uses the agreement (put together) as a basis for discussion with the municipality towards a larger-scale agreement on the future and management of irrigation infrastructures in the municipality. For further information: Vega et al ., 2006 on the site http://www.negowat.org
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