CDFA Press Release #23-123 – CDFA ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR WATER EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
CDFA Press Release #23-123 - CDFA ANNOUNCES AWARDS ... California Department of Food and Agriculture
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California Department of Food and Agriculture Grants for Water Efficiency
Release #23-123
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SACRAMENTO, July 28, 2023 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation is pleased to announce $7.4 million in grants to organizations to provide technical assistance to help farmers and ranchers use water more efficiently. The funding was appropriated to the California Emergency Relief Fund by the Budget Act of 2021 to maintain and precisely calibrate agriculture irrigation systems.
Under the Water Efficiency Technical Assistance (WETA) program, the awarded organizations will provide producers with important services to maintain and finely tune the use of their irrigation systems, including:
- Providing on-farm irrigation system evaluations
- Coordinating or providing pump efficiency testing
- Providing training on water use efficiency and nutrient management practices and technology
The department is awarding 17 grants with terms of three years. This is the second round of the WETA program. The first awards were announced in 2022.
“Funding from the WETA program has enabled our team to leverage other funding sources and strengthen partnerships to improve our services and coverage,” said Sacha Lozano, the Agricultural Stewardship Program Manager with the Santa Cruz Resource Conservation District. “Participating growers benefit from timely and qualified technical assistance to improve their irrigation and nutrient management practices, and the program plays a key role helping us to achieve water conservation goals for our groundwater basin.”
The WETA grant program is designed to facilitate technical assistance to agricultural operations for on-farm water and energy use efficiency and nutrient management.
Producers interested in receiving training or services provided through WETA can review the list of awarded organizations with contact information at the WETA website: www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/technical/weta.html
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California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Public Affairs
1220 N St., Ste. 214, Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-0462, www.cdfa.ca.gov
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The article discusses the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s grants to organizations to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to use water more efficiently. This aligns with SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Additionally, the grants aim to maintain and calibrate agriculture irrigation systems, promoting responsible consumption and production as outlined in SDG 12.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
- SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
The article mentions that the grants aim to help farmers and ranchers use water more efficiently through technical assistance. This aligns with SDG 6.4, which focuses on increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors. Additionally, by maintaining and calibrating agriculture irrigation systems, the grants contribute to achieving environmentally sound management of water resources, supporting SDG 12.4.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Water-use efficiency: The grants aim to provide on-farm irrigation system evaluations and training on water use efficiency. The improvement in water-use efficiency can be measured by comparing the water consumption before and after implementing the technical assistance.
- Reduction in waste release: The grants also focus on maintaining and calibrating agriculture irrigation systems, which can help reduce the release of water waste. The reduction in waste release can be measured by monitoring the amount of water wasted before and after implementing the technical assistance.
These indicators can provide quantitative data to assess the progress made in achieving SDG 6.4 and SDG 12.4.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. | – Water-use efficiency – Reduction in waste release |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | – Reduction in waste release |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: cdfa.ca.gov
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