DEVELOPMENT PLAN the Study on Rural Development Project for the Middle Basin of Tempisque River Final Report
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CHAPTER 5 DEVELOPMENT PLAN The Study on Rural Development Project for the Middle Basin of Tempisque River Final Report CHAPTER 5: DEVELOPMENT PLAN 5.1 LAND USE PLAN This development plan consists of achieving sustainable agricultural development for the small and medium-scale farmers through the improvement of the four basic components (Irrigation/Drainage, Flood Protection, Nature Conservation and Farmer Support/Reinforcement) and its results. The specified target of the plan is set as “improvement of farming and partial achievement of diverse/intensive agriculture of the small and medium-scale farmers at the point of 10 years after the construction of the main irrigation facilities are completed (13 years after leadoff)”. The subject areas of the plan, counting up to 1,3000 ha (in the Study Area: 35,000 ha), are the fields owned by small and medium-scale farmers on the right bank of Tempisque River cultivated without irrigation. 5.1.1 Zoning of the current land use The Study Area was categorized into the following three zones according to their features of land classification, soil and topography (refer to Fig.4.1). (1) The zone where large efficiency of irrigation cannot be expected (Zone A) Subject blocks: No. 4, 6, 8, 10, and 13 Land classification: Class IV Prevailing soil order: Inceptisol and Altisol, with low agricultural productivity Topography: The area is located on the western foot of the mountains, undulate and abundant of slopes Potential of Water Source: Groundwater: Low Tempisque river : Transferring the water is not possible Current land use (ha): Pasture Sugar cane Rice Melon Mango Vegetables Others* Total 4,935 720 125 0 10 70 280 6,140 Note)* others: maize (200ha) and beans (80ha) (2) The zone where efficiency of irrigation can be expected but has difficulty in supplying water by pumping (Zone B) Subject blocks: No. 1, 2, and 3 Land classification: Class II (partly class III) Prevailing soil order: Vertisol and Mollisol, with high agricultural productivity Topography: The area is located in the low flatlands on the upstream edge of the Study Area. Relatively flat but is distributed as enclaves. Potential of Water Source: Groundwater: High Tempisque river : Transferring the water is not possible Current land use (ha): Pasture Sugar cane Rice Melon Mango Vegetables Others Total 450 320 410 0 30 0 0 1,210 (3) The zone where efficiency of irrigation and easy of supplying water (Zone C) Subject blocks: No. 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12 Land classification: Class II Prevailing soil order: Vertisol and Mollisol, with high agricultural productivity Topography: The area is located in the low flatlands of the midstream. Flat and forms a relatively wide area. Potential of Water Source: Groundwater: High Tempisque river : Transferring the water is possible Current land use (ha): Pasture Sugar cane Rice Melon Mango Vegetables Others Total 1,490 2,845 1,010 0 0 85 0 5,430 5 - 1 The Study on Rural Development Project for the Middle Basin of Tempisque River Final Report 5.1.2 Study of crops to be introduced to the respective zones The directionalities of development were studied for each crop as follows. (1) Pasture Cattle raising is an important industry to Tempisque, necessary of improving productivity. However, the pasture of small and medium-scale farmers are low in productivity, and when conditions are profitable, shall be converted to crops of high cash ability. In cases where irrigation is introduced to the fields with suitable topographical and soil conditions, conversion to crops such as vegetables are considerable. On the other hand, in fields of less suitable conditions, conversion to orchards, such as mango may be considered for the diversification of agricultural products. Moreover, when conversion to orchards are not possible, cattle raising will be continued with improvement of farming techniques. Therefore, the proposed directionality of development for the respective zones is as follows. Directionality of development of pasture in respective zones With the zone having undesirable conditions of soil and topography as well as the poor groundwater potential, basically non-irrigated is proposed but irrigation can be applied for only a few limited land Zone A with high groundwater potential, and, a part of the area shall be converted to mango, and improvement of farming shall be practiced through diversified farming with pasture. Though zone has suitable conditions of soil and topography, irrigation utilizing river water is not efficient. However, with the high groundwater potential, irrigation with groundwater shall be Zone B introduced with the conversion of pasture to sugarcane, and to vegetables at the final stage. For the irrigation priority is given to vegetables. The zone has suitable conditions of agriculture and topography. Irrigation with pump systems shall Zone C be introduced, and conversion to crops such as sugar cane, melon and vegetables shall be practiced. Groundwater is also available. (2) Sugar cane Sugarcanes have stable markets and are able to be raised without irrigation. In addition, irrigation has high efficiency on sugar cane (maximum 80% increase of yield). Also with high cultivation techniques, the agriculture of the area shall be developed consisting mainly on sugarcane for the time being. This plan proposes the development of diversified farming consisting on sugarcane and intensive farming of crops such as vegetables. Directionality of development of sugarcane in respective zones Maintaining the actual state of sugarcane and introducing groundwater irrigation to areas capable Zone A (more than 10liters/sec/well). The area has high groundwater potential, and therefore, a part of the area shall be converted to Zone B vegetables, while increasing the production of sugarcane in the rest of the areas through the introduction of groundwater irrigation. Irrigation with pumping systems shall be introduced into this area, and conversion of sugarcane to Zone C melon and vegetables shall be practiced actively, while pasture is converted to sugarcane. (3) Rice At the actual state, rice is being raised at rain-fed paddy fields in locations with suitable soil and topography. Considering the trends of the international market and the balance of demand and supply in the country, the area of rice production shall be basically kept at its actual state. Rice shall not be irrigated during the dry seasons due to the shortage of water resource. On the other hand, replenish irrigation by pump systems or groundwater shall be done in areas capable during the rainy season in order to stabilize the productivity. The production of vegetables shall be introduced for cultivation in the dry season. Directionality of development of rice in respective zones Zone A The production area of rice shall keep its current status. Zone B The production area of rice shall keep its current status. The production area of rice shall keep its current status, with the introduction of replenish irrigation Zone C in the rainy season. 5 - 2 The Study on Rural Development Project for the Middle Basin of Tempisque River Final Report (4) Melon Large-scale farmers commercially produce melons in approximately 1,500ha in the Study Area. Previously, small and medium-scale farmers have attempted to raise melons for about 100ha but failed. The reason of failure was not of cultivation techniques, but of measures in marketing. Within this plan, support on organized farming through organizing small and medium-scale farmers as well as on their farming contracts with the processors will be done. On the other hand, in areas with suitable conditions of soil and topography, intensive agriculture will be developed with the conversion of sugarcanes to melon using resources such as groundwater. Directionality of development of melon in respective zones Zone A Shall not be introduced. Zone B Shall not be introduced. Zone C A part of the sugarcane shall be converted. (5) Mango Diversification of crops will be practiced through the converting a portion of the pasture with undesirable conditions of soil and topography into mango. However, for there will be no returns from the converted fields during the first 1-2years after purchasing nursery stocks and converting the fields, support such as agricultural credits will be necessary. Directionality of development of mango in respective zones Zone A A portion of pasture shall be converted. Zone B Shall be kept at current state. Zone C Shall be kept at current state. (6) Vegetables Vegetables are being raised for the area of 100ha using groundwater. With suitable conditions of soil and topography, along with water supply for irrigation being ensured, the diversification of farming through the conversion from sugarcane to vegetables such as watermelon and chili are profitable. For the farming of vegetables requires intensive farming and associated costs, it shall not be introduced to fields with undesirable conditions. Directionality of development of vegetables in respective zones Zone A Shall not be introduced. Diversification of farming shall be achieved through conversion of pasture to sugarcane, and to Zone B vegetables at the final stage. Diversification of farming shall be achieved through conversion of pasture to sugarcane, and to Zone C vegetables at the final stage. (7) Others For other crops, there are such kinds as maize and frijoles for domestic consumption grown in the foot of the mountains in the west part of the Study Area, where conditions of soil and topography are undesirable. Though improvement of productivity through extension of farming techniques shall be proposed, the area of production shall keep its current state. 5.1.3 Summary of study results Based on the ideas mentioned above, the study of the land use of the Study Area was done as follows. (1) The zone where large efficiency of irrigation cannot be expected (Zone A, Subject blocks: No. 4, 6, 8, 10 and 13) The area is low of agricultural productivity, and has difficulty in converting pasture into vegetables due to soil and topographical constraints.