PERU: Cañete Irrigation Canal Phase I Report

Greetings from Cañete! The 15 August 2007 quake not only destroyed homes, it also damaged an irrigation canal which supplies water to the farmers of Cañete. Last week, Andy, Chris, Katie, Kaz, Jeremey, Merlin, Nick, Rachel, Suzi, and I traveled to the village of Ramadilla to rebuild a 200m section of canal. Photos of our work are now online.

The importance of our work was immediately apparent – not only are the crops shrunken and stunted due to inadequate watering, the leaking water has formed a visible band soaking and undermining the hillsides it runs through.

Rebuilding the canal consisted of digging and leveling the ground, sorting and building wooden frames, installing the wooden frames, collecting rocks, and mixing and pouring cement.

Every morning, we set off on foot for our 30-minute commute. We passed through rolling hills, saw donkeys, and watched the mist clear from the green valley below. Coordinating our efforts with the 15 local men and amazingly hardworking women who came to help was a fun challenge. Once the cement mixer rumbled to life, we all worked nonstop until the lunch bus rolled up to the worksite. (Yes, there was a lunch bus.) In the afternoon, we continued pushing wheelbarrows, reinforcing the frames, and spreading cement, wrapping up just in time for a sunset dip in the river.

Life in Cañete is a big change of pace from that at the base! We lived with Jorge, a local farmer, and his warm, generous family in their home nestled in their apple orchard. Family member Erica took excellent care of us, always offering us “un pocito mas?” (“a little more?”) during meals. The lush, green valley was a welcome change from dusty Pisco, and we bathed in the sparkling waters of the Cañete River.

A special thank you to Luz Salas, mayor of Ramadilla-Con Con, Aníbal Paredes and Yanapasyki Cuerpo Peruano de Ayuda (YCPA), Jorge and his family, and the farmers of Ramadilla, for their partnership on this project.

Next week, a new crew of HODR volunteers will set off for Cañete to tackle the remaining 300m. Who’s up next for un pocito mas in Cañete?

Stefanie Chang
Project Coordinator
Project Pisco