tubed irrigation canal
Introduction
Mexico is a country with a great tradition in the design and construction of hydro-agricultural works, which dates back to pre-Hispanic times. This tradition in the design and construction of hydro-agricultural infrastructure continued to be enriched during the colonial era and independence. However, it was not until after the Mexican Revolution that the construction of large irrigation works began, with the formation of the National Irrigation Commission in 1926. When the Secretariat of Hydraulic Resources was created in 1946, the irrigation districts were born, thus giving greater institutional strength to the country for the better use of water in irrigation areas. In 1976, the Secretariats of Agriculture and Livestock and Hydraulic Resources merged into the Secretariat of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources, where the Undersecretariat of Hydraulic Infrastructure continued with the construction of irrigation districts. In 1989, the National Water Commission was created as the sole executive authority for water.
Mexico has a total territory area of 2 million km² and is classified as an arid and semi-arid country. The agricultural sector plays an important role in the country's economic development and represents 8.4 points of the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 23% of the active population. Irrigated agriculture contributes about 50% of the total value of agricultural production and represents about 70% of agricultural exports. The Mexican government has launched a series of structural reforms in the water sector aimed at introducing modern irrigation management and systems.
The area with irrigation infrastructure in the country is 7,300,000 hectares distributed among 86 districts and 50,753 irrigation units.[1] A large part of this infrastructure was conceived, built and came into operation in the first half of the century and, during the second half, the current entire area under irrigation was built. Of the irrigated surface, 1,300,000 hectares are modernized with multi-gate, sprinkler, drip and tape irrigation systems; In the remaining 5,200,000 hectares, water is applied through surface irrigation. During the last two decades, fundamental changes have been undertaken in the management of the country's irrigation system districts, since the conservation, operation and administration of the infrastructure has been concessioned to 479 civil user associations and 13 limited liability companies, who have the responsibility of providing the irrigation service to their members. At the same time, institutions related to the sector have adapted their functions and responsibilities to support and strengthen the management capacity of these organizations. Thus, the National Water Commission and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food established the programs for Modernization and Rehabilitation of Irrigation Districts, Parcel Development, Efficient Use of Water and Electric Energy, Full Use of Hydro-Agricultural Infrastructure and Irrigation Technique.