Hose-Reel Irrigation: Technology to Optimize Water Use
Hose-Reel Irrigation: Technology to Optimize Water Use
Guatemala’s Sugar Cane Agroindustry is advancing technologies that improve irrigation efficiency, optimize agricultural operations, and increase crop productivity.
One of these innovations is hose-reel irrigation, a mobile sprinkler system that distributes water through a hose that automatically retracts as irrigation progresses.
Its main advantage is versatility: it can be used across different types of terrain, including uneven fields and areas without permanent irrigation infrastructure.
In addition, its automated operation can reduce labor requirements by up to 50%.
Innovation in Action in Guatemala
During 2026, Guatemala’s Sugar Cane Agroindustry conducted evaluations of this technology to identify ways to improve water distribution in sugar cane fields.
The results showed that properly configuring the system can achieve more uniform irrigation.
In some cases, switching from conventional sprinkler systems to hose-reel irrigation has resulted in production increases of more than 10 tonnes of sugar cane per hectare.
Current efforts focus on integrating digital tools to monitor irrigation in real time and support better decision-making in the field.
Hose-reel irrigation is one example of how research and technology are contributing to the evolution of sugar cane production.
From 28 January to 6 February, 2028, Guatemala will host the XXXIII ISSCT Congress – Canevolution Summit 2028, offering an opportunity to discover the advances, expertise, and innovative capabilities of Guatemala’s Sugar Cane Agroindustry.