PROBLEM.
In the fertile lands of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi, the livelihoods of 17,000 farmers hang in the balance due to a devastating drought that has left irrigation canals critical to their crops without water. A catastrophic landslide has destroyed the water collection system in the Latacunga-Salcedo-Ambato irrigation canal, plunging farmers into a desperate fight for survival.
The irrigation canal has been dry for 19 days, when a landslide destroyed a section of the catchment system in Salcedo, on March 5, 2024.
The tragedy fully hit the northern area of Ambato (Tungurahua) and the cantons of Salcedo and Latacunga (Cotopaxi), where more than 17,000 vegetable producers face a devastating situation. “Without water, everything dies!” farmers cry, an unfortunate reality that now threatens them. The erosion of the terrain caused a landslide that dragged with it about 30 meters of mountain, destroying a vital section of the Latacunga-Salcedo-Ambato irrigation canal, which was previously the vital artery that fed the crops and watering holes of numerous communities, according to Marcelo Suárez, president of the Irrigation System.
The alarm went off on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 in the Salache-Angamarca sector, in Salcedo. At first, farmers did not realize the seriousness of the problem, but it soon became apparent when technicians came to inspect. The prefect of Tungurahua, Manuel Caizabanda, confirmed the magnitude of the damage, estimating that the repair will take at least 21 days to restore the flow of water.
However, for farmers, 21 more days of drought are equivalent to bankruptcy. This crisis could translate into a 20% decrease in the production of vegetables, warned the president of the irrigation system. Meanwhile, the tankers have seen this situation as an opportunity for profit. Ernesto Chango, a farmer from Puerto Arturo, north of Ambato, has planted a variety of vegetables, but now faces heartbreaking uncertainty. “17 days have passed and the water reserves have been exhausted. It doesn’t even rain to harvest it,” laments Chango, whose economic losses could be in the millions. Another farmer, Alex Chicaiza, has invested a considerable sum in greenhouse tomato production. He points out that in Quijaló, there are vast areas of production that are now at risk. Furthermore, he denounces the opportunism of tankers, who are charging exorbitant rates to desperate producers.