Title: Hydro-economic optimisation proposal based on an optimised resource allocation model: a case study of the Peruvian agro-industrial company San Jacinto

Authors: Jhosep Jhonatan Ochoa Gamarra; Javier Paredes-Arquiola; Lia Ramos Fernandez

Addresses: Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain ' Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain ' Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru

Abstract: Water and arable land are scarce resources; therefore, it is necessary to optimise their use to increase economic returns and reduce environmental impacts, which becomes more demanding with the world population growth. This paper, proposes a methodology for hydro-economic optimisation in water resources systems through a management model, developed in decision support systems AQUATOOL, with economic estimates of agricultural productivity. This methodology seeks to optimise the rational use of water to obtain maximum economic returns. Therefore, a Peruvian sugar company was employed as a validation case study. This company was in a stage of crop diversification and needed to plan, execute and optimise its production area and crop location; and was able to achieve a reduction of 16.81 hm³ in annual average water deficit an increased annual economic returns by 74.98 million dollars.

Keywords: water resources management; AQUATOOL; decision making; water balance; irrigation water; optimised water allocation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2023.131176

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2023 Vol.15 No.4, pp.349 - 372

Received: 11 Dec 2020
Accepted: 17 Sep 2021
Published online: 01 Jun 2023 *

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