Peru's Ancient Irrigation Systems: Lessons from the Past for a Climate-Resilient Future

Peru's arid north coast, surprisingly, thrives as an agro-industrial heartland due to sophisticated irrigation systems. However, climate change and modern agricultural practices exacerbate water scarcity. This article explores ancient Moche and Chimu irrigation systems, which successfully managed droughts and floods for millennia. Their success stemmed from a blend of culture and technology, not just technology alone. Modern large-scale irrigation projects, while providing short-term prosperity, neglect ancient wisdom and face sustainability challenges. The article calls for integrating ancient cultural and technological insights into modern agriculture for more resilient solutions, emphasizing the need to respect and preserve indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.