The solar-powered cattle aqueduct system on Alcibiades’ model silvopastoral system farm.
Note: Yale School of the Environment (YSE) was formerly known as the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES). News articles and events posted prior to July 1, 2020, refer to the School's name at that time.
Summary
Alcibiades Vergara is a traditional cattle rancher from Los Asientos, Los Santos Province in Panama. As one of 17 siblings and member of one of the first families that became established in the area 80 years ago, Alcibiades learned cattle ranching from his father, who deforested and burned the land to plant annual crops and pasture for cattle. Having practiced and seen the consequences of conventional ranching for over 70 years, Alcibiades became a member of the Association for Livestock and Agro-silvopastoral Producers of Pedasi (APASPE), the first sustainable cattle ranching association in the Azuero Peninsula. His participation in ELTI courses and APASPE sustainable ranching projects have inspired Alcibiades to transform his conventional farm into a model agro-silvopastoral system that produces three times as much as a conventional one, while conserving the ecosystem and biodiversity. Alcibiades hopes that his efforts will not only transform his farm, but also that his renewed vision of ranching will serve as a legacy of traditional livelihoods and culture conserved by adopting sustainable practices and new technology.
The main objective of this project is to establish a solar-powered cattle aqueduct system on a model silvopastoral farm. Its motivation stems from the need to provide dairy cattle with a clean and continuous source of water, in order to sustain productivity throughout the year, especially during the dry season. Expected results include a functional solar panel, pump and aqueduct infrastructure that will allow the fencing of riparian areas to avoid contamination and permit natural regeneration. ELTI provided technical assistance and trained Alcibiades to manage and maintain the system. Project materials were funded by a grant from the Global Environmental Facility’s Small Grants Program, obtained by APASPE with help from ELTI.