Increased water efficiency in palm oil - Colombia

Background

The Netherlands is internationally well-known for its expertise on water management and crossovers like water for agriculture, which is therefore one of the cornerstones of the bilateral relationships the Netherlands maintains as part of the Netherlands International Water Ambition (NIWA). Colombia is one of the seven priority delta countries in the framework of the NIWA, which results in collaboration on topics of water management, coastal protection, governance and nexus based combinations like water and agriculture.

Cenipalma has an interest to intensify its research on water efficiency at field level. More knowledge on the actual irrigation requirements of palm oil cultivations in the northern regions is needed. Also, there is limited knowledge available on the possibility to combine efficient irrigation practices like drip irrigation with fertilizer use (so called fertigation systems). Current drip irrigation systems are placed at the surface of the fields, while (permanent) subsurface systems could probably be another option to further reduce evaporation because they are laid underground.

Ambition

The project stimulated and supported the adoption of more efficient irrigation techniques by Colombian palm oil production farmers. To do so, the limiting factors for this adoption were (further) investigated and addressed in a feasibility study and indicative cost-benefit analysis. To convince farmers to adopt these techniques, a pilot study was implemented at the demonstration field of Cenipalma and two leading farmers in the area. The study specifically included an advice on knowledge development and implementation of water measurement techniques like the use of sensors and adoption of fertigation systems through a small scale demonstration project. A combination of convincing arguments, a viable business case and an on-field application of fertigation use and sensors in efficient irrigation systems is expected to increase the likeliness of moving away from conventional practices. These innovations in water and fertilizer management on a farm level could benefit both the environmental as well as the economic sustainability of palm oil production.

Project activities and approach

The project duration was from July 2020 until November 2021. In the implementation phase, a pilot project was developed at the demonstration site of Cenipalma. The project implemented a sensor setup and a tailored dashboard for smart irrigation and fertigation. This was done in close collaboration with Cenipalma. Sensors could be used to help the grower to measure crop development and environmental factors. New techniques enable growers to exchange data easier and faster. Delphy Digital, a team within Delphy, uses in-field sensor data to create applications for cultivation management, containing irrigation and fertigation modules. Data-driven models and systems translate data into concrete advices and actions for cultivation optimisation on a strategic, tactical and operational level, which makes it possible to optimize the input and output directly. This is further explained in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cIe5K1ZhBM

As part of the project activities, Delphy Digital developed a dashboard for smart irrigation and fertigation in palm production in Northern Colombia. The dashboard included advice on irrigation, fertigation and fertilization for palm trees. Furthermore, the consortium installed sensors to monitor the most important parameters regarding good and efficient palm oil production (e.g. information on soil moisture, weather, the irrigation system, soil moisture content and the timing for irrigation and fertigation). Consortium partners, together with Cenipalma experts, collected the information and transferred it to a dashboard through "The Internet of Things". The sensors and innovative irrigation, fertigation and water harvesting systems were installed at two hectares of the demonstration farm.

Project results

Increasing water efficiency in the palm oil sector is required for adaptation to climate change and sustainability of the palm oil sector. Three main limiting factors for the adoption of efficient irrigation systems were found during this study:

1. Theft of sprinklers

2. Producers are reluctant to invest making use of credits

3. Lack of knowledge on the costs of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, especially the maintenance costs, and the time of returning the investment.

Implementing efficient irrigation systems in the Sevilla basin can save up to 67% and 72% of water when adopting sprinkler or drip irrigation, respectively. The most suitable solution for improving irrigation application uniformity, crop yield and water productivity in the oil palm plantations in the basin was found to be sprinkler irrigation. But theft of sprinklers is the main limiting factor for producers to not adopt sprinkler irrigation. Theft of drippers does not occur, which increases the suitability of drip irrigation, even though the initial investment costs are higher.

The lack of knowledge on the investment and maintenance costs, and return of investment of sprinkler and drip irrigation was found to be one of the main limiting factors for adoption by producers. The cost-benefit analysis contributed to bridging this gap. Investing in drip irrigation is the most profitable option as calculated in this report. Sprinkler is also profitable, but under climate change conditions less attractive. Surface irrigation is not worthwhile, only if producers pay no or a reduced fee for their water use. Fertigation is shown to be cost-effective. An extra advantage is that you can make use of the efficient irrigation systems (drip, sprinkler) throughout the whole year. However, more research and trials need to be done at Palmar de la Sierra, for tailoring the approach and to showcase it to producers.

The future action plan includes four pillars. Cenipalma will keep monitoring the pilot studies that were established as part of this project and will prosecute the research projects that are already running at this experimental station. The gained knowledge and experience are disseminated within the second pillar. The results of the pilot studies are used to quantify the benefits of efficient irrigation systems and to stimulate adoption by producers. Next to that, Cenipalma will support producers which want to implement efficient irrigation systems with technical assistance. In order to have sustainable water management in the basin as a whole, a holistic approach should be taken, which is the third pillar. Connecting strategies between the basin authority Corpamag, the irrigation district Asosevilla and the productive sectors of coffee, banana and palm oil, including the engagement of the sector organisations will be the strategy for contributing to a shared vision on the basin. The fourth pillar includes connecting with the local and national government, and banks, in order to tackle two of the main limiting factors: the high initial investments of efficient irrigation systems and the short payback period of loans.

If you want to download this project summary follow the links below, also available in Spanish. Interested in receiving more information? Please contact us:

LAN Bogota
BOG-LNV@minbuza.nl

Cenipalma
Nolver Atanacio Arias Arias
Agronomy programme coordinator
narias@cenipalma.org

Delphy
l.demmink@delphy.nl