Socio-territorial Diagnosis and Action Plan for Indigenous Community Management of the Talatac Basin

Abstract

The people of Talatac face severe food insecurity and poverty, with 98% of the population living in unfavorable conditions. Their main economic activity is barley cultivation and sheep grazing. The most pressing problem is low agricultural productivity, accentuated by the lack of an adequate irrigation system, especially during the months of water scarcity. A preliminary study suggests the implementation of a sprinkler irrigation system that would improve agricultural production, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Zero Hunger and Sustainable Production and Consumption. The study includes the biophysical and socioeconomic diagnosis of the Talatac watershed, which covers 946 ha, of which 17.84% is dedicated to short-cycle crops and 2.34% to pasture. The watershed has erosion, rapid runoff, and waste contamination problems. The lack of attention from the Municipality of Cotopaxi has led the community to request technical support from universities, obtaining an initial budget of $552,893.74 for irrigation infrastructure, an unattainable cost for the inhabitants without government subsidies or NGO support. The study also proposes a sustainable management plan for water resources and soil and moorland conservation. It also proposes strategies to involve external actors in the financing and execution of the project, as well as the installation of a meteorological station to monitor climatic conditions and improve water use planning. The conclusions highlight the urgent need for an irrigation system, accompanied by solutions to conserve soil and water, as well as sustainable economic development to combat poverty and improve the community's quality of life.