VLIR-UOS TEAM Own Initiative project
ZEIN2011PR380
Start: 2011 - End: 2015
Master in irrigation engineering
History:
VLIR-UOS Own Initiative project ZEIN2005SEL4
Quinagua Project (May 2005 – April 2011)
PROYECTO
VLIR - KULeuven - AgroUMSA
Cooperación del Consejo Interuniversitario Flamenco - Belgica
Potentiality of raising quinoa production
by deficit irrigation
to alleviate poverty in the depressed areas of the Bolivian Altiplano
grain yield (ton/ha)
3.0
2.5
2.6
ton/ha
2.0
2.0
ton/ha
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.2
0.8
ton/ha
rainfed
dry year
wet year
-
5,500 m3
available
irrigation water
-
2.6 ton
5.5 ton
1 ha
2.75 ha
fully
irrigated
deficit
irrigation
+ 5,500
m3/ha
+ 2,000
m3/ha
Field experiments
Research results: Full assessment of :
- Physical environment (IR1)
- Socio economic environment (IR2)
- Environmental impact (IR4)
Software: (IR3)
FAO AquaCrop water productivity model
calibrated for quinoa. Development of sustainable
(deficit) irrigation guidelines
Quinagua
project
Field experiments in farmers fields
- 6 years
- 20 locations
Dissemination of results: (IR5)
Technical bulletins, Transfer of research results to
Municipalities, Presentations to farmers, initiation
of SUMAMAD (UNESCO) project
Capacity building: (IR6)
- 40 Master students
- 5 PhD students
- Training material
Equipment for Research
Equipment for Teaching and Extension
services
Universidad Mayor de San Andrés
Facultad de Agronomia
VLIR-UOS Own Initiative project ZEIN2011PR380
Master in Irrigation Engineering
Interest from Bolivia
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper : Productivity can only be increased
by increasing the productive infrastructure (i.e. irrigation and roads)
Interest from UMSA - university
Need for irrigation engineers to design and manage irrigation projects
A training programme for irrigation engineers does not exist in Bolivia
Expertise in Belgium
VLIR ICP IUPWARE
KULeuven:
• Dep. of Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Dep. of Civil engineering
• Dep. of Sciences
Free University Brussels:
• Dep. of Hydrology and Hydraulic engineering
VLIR O.I. UMSA - La Paz
• Title: Master in Irrigation Engineering
• Period: 4 years from November 2011
• 2 promotions 2012-2014, 2013-2015
• Academic overall objective : Performance of public
local universities in the conductance of Master programs is
strengthened and improved.
• Developmental overall objective: Productive
infrastructure for a more technical and, especially, efficiently
irrigated crop production under before-rainfed agriculture is
expanded and improved.
VLIR O.I. UMSA - La Paz
• Budget: 300,000 EUR
• 120,000 EUR scholarships (10 each promotion)
• 70,000 EUR operational cost (advertisement, missions, field
allowance students)
• 40,000 EUR personnel cost (field technician, lecturing fees)
• 40,000 EUR investment cost (PCs, field research
equipment)
• 30,000 EUR coordination and management cost
VLIR O.I. UMSA - La Paz
• Local promoter:
• Magali GARCIA, Universidad Mayor de San Andres (UMSA)
• Belgian promoters:
• Patrick WILLEMS, KU Leuven, Department of Civil
engineering
• Dirk RAES, KU Leuven, Department of Earth and
Environmental Sciences
• Okke BATELAAN, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of
Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering
Capacity building related Intermediate Results (IR)
IR1 – Master programme is properly designed
Major input: expertise from IUPWARE
How to run a programme,
design of curriculum,
handbooks, software programme’s, ...
1 year classes – 0.5 year master research
IR2 – Master training can be conducted
UMSA: construction of a new Building
Further equipment of laboratories
Very fast accreditation of the Master programme
IR3 – Master research can be conducted
UMSA has access to experimental fields
has expertise in setting up master research
has good and multiple contacts with government and NGO’s
IR4 – Master programme is running
2nd promotion
IR5 – Sustainability of the master programme is guaranteed
Training is in Spanish, mainly by docents from Bolivia (UMSA,
Cochabamba)
Interest of new donors for scholarships is attracted
Master Students visiting irrigation systems
Master thesis research:
Experimental stations - Installation and operation of the geomembrane reservoir :
Master thesis research:
Experimental stations - Installation of the drip irrigation
system incl. pumping room:
Master thesis research:
Experimental stations – Installation of drip irrigation system for irrigation
of onions
Master thesis research:
Experimental stations - Sprinkler deficit irrigation
of quinoa and barley:
Master thesis research:
Experimental stations – Reactivation of the lysimeter for
research on crop evapotranspiration: