Bolivia National Irrigation Program with a Watershed Approach (PRONAREC)

Bolivia's National Irrigation Program with a Watershed Approach (PRONAREC) is a public investment and technical assistance program launched in 2009 by the Ministry of Environment and Water, through the Vice Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, with financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Its objective is to increase agricultural productivity and rural household incomes by expanding irrigated farmland, improving water-use efficiency and strengthening community-based water resources management. The program finances the construction, rehabilitation and improvement of public and community irrigation infrastructure, including irrigation canals, water distribution systems and storage facilities. It also provides technical assistance and training to farmers and water-user organizations for system operation and maintenance, efficient water management and the adoption of more productive agricultural practices. Interventions incorporate a watershed approach to promote the protection of water sources, irrigation system sustainability and the participation of beneficiary communities. The program primarily targets small-scale agricultural producers, family farmers and rural communities organized through water-user associations. Its first phase began in 2009, the second was approved in 2013 and the third in 2016; implementation dates must therefore be distinguished by program phase. An IDB evaluation published in 2017 identified improvements in agricultural production value, complementary investments, market access and beneficiary household incomes. These findings refer to the evaluated population and period and should not automatically be generalized to every phase of the program.