Chile to Spend $76.3m on Irrigation Projects

Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture is to invest CLP36bn ($76.3m) in irrigation projects during 2011.

Agriculture Minister Jose Antonio Galilea said that the ministry aims to increase the total irrigated area in Chile by 80km² by the end of 2011.

The ministry will work in collaboration with the National Irrigation Commission and the general water department, DGA, to improve the efficiency of water use in agriculture, which is responsible for around 78% of water use in Chile.

DGA is working on a bill to modify the country’s water law to impose sanctions for the misuse or failure to use water rights, reports bnamericas.com.

The bill will also seek to regulate the use of groundwater and allow the use of new processes such as the artificial replenishment of aquifers.