OBV SCABRIC has launched a project to explore agri-environmental solutions to the problem of water shortage in the Saint-Rémi area. This recurring shortage is caused by the geographical remoteness of watercourses and the presence of a piezometric slope that draws water out of the area. The project was carried out from May 2023 to January 2025.
In concrete terms, our team encouraged agricultural producers to adopt better irrigation water management practices, and involved 15 producers in and around the Saint-Rémi region in a concerted effort to apply water-saving practices adapted to their needs. Among these growers, two have begun to implement rational irrigation on their farms, financed by the Prime-Vert program for the purchase of equipment such as probes and tensiometers. These tools enable irrigation to be managed according to the crop’s water requirements, thus reducing water losses. Seven other farms have adopted water management practices to reduce irrigation losses.
In addition, a consultation day was organized on December 11, 2024 for producers recruited as part of the project. This event, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) as part of the Prime-Vert program, was carried out in collaboration with Université Laval and INRS-ETE, with the aim of promoting shared management of water resources. The aim of the day was to develop a collective approach to water resource management through knowledge sharing. Four conferences facilitated exchanges with experts, who presented the importance of using new irrigation equipment, such as probes, tensiometers and humidity sensors, connected to a mobile application to simplify growers’ work. The event concluded with two workshops on irrigation water management and territorial planning of groundwater abstraction.
This project was funded by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Prime-Vert program.
