Las Vaginas Jovenes

Exportaciones agrarias y gestión sostenible del agua en la Costa
Peruana: el caso del valle de Ica







Eric RENDON SCHNEIR UniversidadNacional Autónoma de México
Dr. en Economía de los Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Sostenible







ABSTRACT


This paper evaluates the environmental effects on the useof underground water in the valley of Ica. as a result of the agriculture export model between 1950 and 2007, particularly after 1990. The valley of Ica is the main valley ofPeru for agriculture exports, and is located
300 km to the south of Lima, capital of Peru. I analyze 3 sub-periods: 1950 - 1969, when the monoculture of cotton forexternal markets was predominant; 1969 - 1989, when the land reform changed water and land use laws, and from 1990 onwards, characterized by the new model of agriculture exports of vegetables, legumes andfruits, crops with intensive use of water.


The agro-export model in the Ica valley generated better welfare levels, based on comparative advantages, but this model damagedthe environment, in particular the water resource, particularly ground water, as measured by water exported from the valley, called virtual water, and waterfoot print and wateravailability per capita.


In my evaluation of these environmental consequences I consider that technological initiatives geared toward increasing the water supply in thevalley and improving irrigation technologies, must be combined with a management of demand for water, by means of economic incentives. Public policies should consider aparticipating management of water by users. The present research could in addition, serve as reference for the rest of valleys of the Peruvian coast, where commercial agriculture...