Poster: Rainwater harvesting system to ensure sustainability of smallholder farmers

Poster on Rainwater harvesting system to ensure sustainability of smallholder farmers: climate challenge, research question, practice description, technical aspects, implementation, results and contribution to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) pillars. Author: CCAFS Latin America. Please credit accordingly.

1. 42
Rainwater harvesting system
to ensure sustainability of smallholder farmers
Low availability of water for irrigation and 
consumption, particularly in the four months of low 
rainfall.
Climate challenge
Practice description
Development of a water-harvesting structure for the storage and use of 
rainwater in irrigation and domestic uses (not human consumption), which 
allow to collect, distribute and store the water to be used especially during 
the dry season. It is non-polluting, and encourages the efficient use of water.
Technical aspects
The practice contributes to adaptation and food security given that together with the harvested water, this prac-
tice ensures the supply of water for domestic requirements and irrigation of the home garden. The practice also 
contributes to mitigation given that water is used more efficiently. 
Implementation and results
Contribution to CSA pillars
Due to the shortage or unavailability of water, 
especially in times of low rainfall, how is it possible to 
maintain the productivity of the farm, storing 
rainwater?
Research question
Estimation of monthly water requirements for the farm and the feasibility of 
developing the structure.
The farm 'El Nacedero' requires 16m
3
/ month
for agricultural activities,
of which 70% is for irrigation
and 30% for domestic use.
11.2m
3
4.8m
3
With rainwater harvesting, it is possible to store all the rainfall to be
used during the dry season, which ranges
from 8 to 5m
3
during the four months.
The water collected during the dry season ensures water
for the home garden and
household chores.
17m
3
20m
3
64m
3
Total water requirement
in 4 months
Maximum and minimum
of water harvested and
extracted from the well
during the dry season
21
42
families implemented the practice
in 2015.
In 2016,
42 more families
implemented the practice.
The structure is in Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
and has a minimum service life of
years15
Reservoir built in Nicaragua for harvesting water,
a CIAT / FLAR project. Photo: Neil Palmer
The implementation of the practice , it costs
$610.000
(USD 203)
Exchange rate: COP3.000/USD
CCAFS Latin America
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Km. 17 Recta Cali-Palmira. Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
The well located in the farm allows to pump
a maximum of 6m
3
/ month in wet season
and 3m
3
/ month in dry season.