Application of a sustainability index of water resources in agriculture (ISRHA), to define sustainable technological strategies in the centella watershed

Abstract

The assessment of water management in Colombia is still low, therefore was developed ISRHA index wich assesses the sustainability of water management in agriculture considering social, economic and environmental factors to contribute to planning and management of the water resources in the Centella watershed. The Framework for the Systems Management-Incorporating evaluation of Sustainability Indicators and Approach MESMIS Pressure-State-Response-PSR was used. The index was applied in two time periods, in 2009 and 2010 in the three areas of the Centella watershed(La Virgen, Aguas Calientes and Centella). The 2010 results showed progress towards sustainability of water resources in the three study areas (La Virgen, Aguas Calientes and Centella) with an average increase of 11% on sustainability compared with 2009 results. This allowed to identify the ability of critical and strengths points and raised technological strategies of sustainability of water resources in agriculturalproduction systems in the Centella watershed.