Decision Support System for Small Reservoir Water Harvesting Technology in Drought-Prone Areas for Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract

A computer-based decision support system was designed, developed and tested to address a range of advisory support for rain-fed farming, i.e. crop selection, scheduling, water management and optimisation. The system was utilised for agricultural planning on sustainable agriculture in the rain-fed ecosystem through the use of indigenous water harvesting technology for supplemental irrigation, thereby increasing production and at the same time managing soil and water resources for a climate change adaptive strategy. The application of the model was carried out using crop, soil, and climate and water resource data. With the analysis of 30-year rainfall data from an agro-meteorological station based at Echague, Isabela, simulations for Cagayan Valley conditions were undertaken on probabilities of wet and dry periods, and with various capacities of the water reservoir used for supplemental irrigation. Through the analysis, useful information was obtained to determine feasible project sites, suitable crops in the region, cropping schedule and pattern appropriate and optimisation of the use of the land and water resources that can be achieved in areas irrigated by small water harvesting systems.