… Today, 40% of the irrigated land in the (Central) Valley still depends on flood irrigation. It’s a method that served its purpose for decades but no longer aligns with current challenges. It’s inefficient and costly—not just for the farmer, but for the entire community that relies on that water. And perhaps most concerning: many producers remain locked into this system not due to lack of will, but due to lack of access to the capital required to transition. But change is already taking shape.  A new generation of companies, organizations, and public-private initiatives is proving that it’s possible to reduce water use without compromising productivity. And even more importantly: that this model of water stewardship benefits every actor involved. Every cubic meter of water saved creates value—for the companies financing technology adoption, for the farmers implementing it on their land, and for the communities that depend on water to thrive.
–Written by Jairo Trad, CEO & Co-Founder of Kilimo.