ICID STATEMENTS/DECLARATIONS

 

DELHI DECLARATION
LVIV DECLARATION
LAHORE DECLARATION
TEHRAN DECLARATION
KUALA LUMPUR STATEMENT
THE BEIJING DECLARATION
MOSCOW DECLARATION
UTRECHT DECLARATION
THE MONTREAL DECLARATION
YALTA DECLARATION
SEOUL DECLARATION
CAPE TOWN DECLARATION
CONCLUSION OF TOKYO WORKSHOP
NEW DELHI DECLARATION
GRANADA ICID DECLARATION
BALI DECLARATION

ICID - CAIRO STATEMENT

THE HAGUE ICID DECLARATION

 



THE HAGUE ICID DECLARATION

World population is expected to exceed six billion by the end of the century with 90 per cent living in developing countries. Based on current trends, population growth may exceed increases in food production.

During the past four decades, irrigation and drainage have contributed significantly to the increase in food production. Today, a meagre one-sixth of cropped lands that is irrigated produces one-third of the world's harvest of food crops. Drainage has enhanced the productivity of another tenth of cropped lands. These contributions are not without costs. Irrigated agriculture consumes 70 to 80 per cent of the fresh water used in developing countries. Drainage of agricultural lands impacts downstream water quality. The performance of many irrigation schemes is below their potential levels. Globally, about two-fifths (100 million hectares) of irrigated lands are at risk from waterlogging or salinization, or are already affected. Future growth in irrigated agriculture will be limited by the scarcity of water and land, by increasing competition for water, by the degradation of the environment, by the rising cost of development, by the deterioration of existing systems, and, finally, by the inadequacies of management.

Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource having an economic value with social, economic and environmental implications. The Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, June 1992) set formidable challenges for the development of water resources and agricultural production. AGENDA 21 of the Earth Summit sets the targets for increasing sustainable crop production at 3 to 4 % per annum including the increase in productivity of existing irrigation schemes. These targets will ensure that future degradation of land and water resources is avoided or even reversed.

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) has a half century of experience in the promotion and transfer of water management technology and in the handling of related issues. Building on its past experience, accomplishments, and the comprehensive water management framework, about 750 participants from 65 countries, meeting in The Hague from the 6th to the 11th of September, 1993, at the 15th ICID Congress, addressed the theme of "Water Management in the Next Century".

Actions resulting from these discussions are :

  1. ICID will promote new programs for water savings in agriculture to enable the release of water for other emerging high priority uses.
  2. ICID will encourage irrigation and drainage agencies to optimize the use of resources and adopt holistic and multi-disciplinary approaches to the planning of irrigation and drainage systems which, in large measure, are the keys to attaining sustainable schemes.
  3. ICID will promote programs to enhance the productivity of water at both the farm and system levels, and to ensure equity in the distribution of irrigation water, the sustainability of development and the protection of the environment.
  4. ICID will launch public awareness and participation programs in association with other agencies on the annual World Water Day, 22nd of March, as established by the United Nations.
  5. Irrigation and drainage agencies will be encouraged to increase participation of farmer organizations in the operation, maintenance and management of irrigation and drainage systems.
  6. ICID will promote international cooperation in the management of international river basins.
  7. ICID will promote special programs in irrigation, drainage, and water management in Africa and other water-stressed areas.
  8. ICID will develop area-oriented plans for the management of droughts and floods.
  9. ICID and its national committees will broaden their memberships and develop young professionals from whom future leaders will emerge.
  10. Programs will be undertaken to exchange appropriate technology among national committees, planners, designers and managers of irrigation systems.

ICID's Action Plan will have APPROPRIATE WATER MANAGEMENT as its central theme. It will be implemented in close cooperation with other international agencies. National Committees will develop their own action agendas in support of this central theme, focusing on water saving and improving the performance of irrigation and drainage schemes, while, at the same time, ensuring increases in food production. This sets ICID on a new challenging path for water management in the 21st century.


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ICID - CAIRO STATEMENT

September 1996

The International Congress on Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture held in Cairo with 900 participants from 64 countries of the world noted the important role that will have to be played by irrigated agriculture for feeding the increasing number of people on this globe. The challenge is that increase in food production and rural wealth will have to take place under conditions of less water and less public funds available for irrigation and drainage works. Food security which is also closely linked with water security will have to be achieved under conditions of natural variability in supply and climate change.

The environmental, technical, financial, economic and social aspects of sustainability of irrigation and drainage systems will require closer attention and continuous monitoring. For this purpose comprehensive information systems will have to be developed for all concerned areas.

Decentralization in planning and management with involvement of the concerned communities will need to be promoted together with sound practices for cost recovery and good management by irrigation agencies. Agricultural productivity per unit of water will have to be progressively increased in order to be able to compete with other higher value uses of water.

The important role of women of the farming communities in the developing countries will have to be properly recognized and special programs for enhancing their skills in land and water management and for participation in the operation of the irrigation and drainage systems will have to be pursued.

Increases in the effective irrigation area will have to be achieved through timely rehabilitation and modernization of the irrigation and drainage systems, reclamation of waterlogged or salinised irrigated lands and by opening of new lands to irrigation and drainage services through low cost techniques. Simultaneously increased attention will also be necessary for the management of the upstream water sheds.

Plans for integrated development and management of surface and ground water resources will have to be implemented through basin wide institutions for securing proper consensus on allocation of water and for ensuring adequate share for meeting the requirements of irrigated agriculture.

Access of the poor farmers to productive resources like water will have to be improved through equity in distribution of water for alleviating rural poverty and for preserving the natural resource base.

Towards these goals ICID will develop its activities and promote throughout the world formulation of sound policies in the larger macroeconomic and sociological context.

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ICID-CEC PENANG STATEMENT

The 7th ICID International Drainage Workshop, organised by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), and the Commonwealth Water Forum, convened by the Commonwealth Engineering Council (CEC) were held in Penang, Malaysia, November 17-21, 1997. The theme of the ICID Drainage Workshop was : Drainage for the 21st Century, and the theme of the Commonwealth Water Forum was : Sustainable Water Resources Management into the 21 Century - Policy and Technological Innovations. There were 254 delegates from 41 countries representing all the continents of the world. The participants noted that with the emergence of the World Water Council and Global Water Partnership on the world stage, more effective arrangements for collaborative work towards comprehensive and integrated development of water resources will be progressively available in the near future.

ICID in close cooperation with the other international professional associations such as the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), the International Water Supply Association (IWSA) and the International Association of Water Quality (IAWQ) has also initiated efforts for promoting water conservation programmes worldwide. It is imperative that water is put to use in a sustainable manner in all parts of the world through appropriate social, environmental and economic arrangements along with regulatory regimes and international cooperative mechanisms.

Worldwide agriculture accounts for 65% of all water obtained for human activity. The bulk of the increase of food production for the growing population will have to come from increasing productivity of the irrigated areas and from irrigation expansion in new areas. To achieve this successfully, under increasing competition for water, a multidisciplinary-multisectoral approach to the management of the world's water resources will have to be adopted.

Supplyside manipulations alone will not provide the desired results. Demand management measures will have to be put in place through new policy interventions, consumer education, waste minimisation and re-examination of lifestyles and food consumption patters. Available resources will also have to be protected and preserved by adopting clean technologies, pollution control, and by using buffers such as wetlands, as natural filters.

Sound drainage practices can achieve substantial increase in land productivity, ensure bio-diversity protection and provide for a proper quality of drained water flowing to the downstream system. As irrigated and rain-fed agricultural production is intensified, drainage will become critical for sustainability of the system. Provision of extensive drainage infrastructure, surface as well as sub-surface, in conformity with the local requirements along with its effective operation and maintenance through participation of the beneficiaries, will be the key to success in sustainable agricultural production. The likely effects of climate change will have also to be kept in view. Global attention will have to be focused on these requirements.

For this purpose, watertable management, controlled drainage, flood mitigation, reuse of drainage and wastewater will have to be given closer attention. Comprehensive management plans must be developed for different areas on a scientific basis and backed by adequate legal provisions. The International Programme for Technology Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID) will have to work with other organisations to evolve innovative solutions for problem areas. Capacity building measures including development of expertise for handling the complex soil-water-plant relation and drainage extension services to farmers are urgently required. Extensive networks for continuous monitoring of the ground watertable and the soil environment near plant root zones will have to be instituted early. Towards these objectives, necessary institutional reforms must be undertaken.

ICID and CEC will collaborate to undertake future international activities towards the fulfillment of these goals. In this regard, they appeal to all governments, international agencies, financing institutions, private sector organisations and NGOs to work together for sustainable management of global water resources, especially for meeting future food requirements through sound drainage arrangements, incorporated as al integral part of sustainable management of land and water.

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BALI DECLARATION

At the end of the 10th Afro-Asian Regional Conference and IEC, a statement known as "Bali Declaration" was issued which appealed all African and Asian countries to take pro-active steps to ensure sustainable water and land development. Following is the text of the Bali Declaration:

"Since the mid-eighties global food production is declining at about one percent per year. This decline is mostly taking place in the developing and some of the developed countries of Asia and Africa. The changing economic conditions in these countries bring with it changes in land use and tenure. Annually more fertile agriculture land is lost to more lucrative industrial and urban development, while less fertile lands, and highlands and forests are brought under agricultural use. The gap in income between urban/industrial and agricultural/rural occupation is steadily increasing. This is inevitably creating greater gaps between the two sectors and makes farming no longer a desired occupation. In addition, the low level of education of farmers hinders their capability to adapt. The net result is a gradual reduction in the level of food production and lower food security.

Meanwhile the demographic conditions show a rapidly increasing population in Asia and Africa. Increase of food production and agricultural base incomes, as well as the eradication of food insecurity are intricately linked with sustainable and productive use of water and land resources. The largest contributor to food production is irrigated agriculture for which fresh water is the single most important factor. Yet all indicators point to the critical condition of global fresh water in the coming 21st century. The increasing scarcity and declining quality of fresh water is cause for serious concern.

A more integrated and multipurpose approach for land and water development and management is required which will also enhance water saving measures. Reuse of agricultural drainage and unconventional poor quality water can be used in water shortage areas. In the introduction and application of technology, priority should be given to appropriate technology, taking into consideration financial feasibility and social acceptability. It may also be noted that for better and efficient use of resources, a shift of paradigm in water and land resources development is required from government oriented decision making process and activities to a more user-based system. The empowerment of water user organizations and their participation in the planning and management aspects of water and land resources development is essential for putting in place an effective management system that will ensure performance.

Since the irrigation sector is the largest user of water, it is necessary to optimize water use and promote conservation, and improve irrigation efficiencies. Such optimization however requires modern and viable management operation systems for planning, water distribution, operation and maintenance including engineering, agronomic, social, economic and financial aspects. Their adoption can be a substantial step forward in raising productivity and water use efficiency. Socio-economic development and environmental conservation are also closely linked. The green economics is based on the concept of internalized environmental cost in setting the prices.

It is agreed that community and public at large have an important role to play in the water and land resources development and management. It is now particularly recognized that women have a strategic role to play in water management and conservation. Enhancing participation of the stakeholder is essential for sustainable development of land and water resources. There is a need to enhance the role of the economically empowered Water Users' organizations with particular attention to small-scale economic enterprises and gender equity issues. In the light of this Management transfer of irrigation schemes, the empowerment of community organization and enhancing of women participation are a prerequisite for sustained development and management of land and water resources.

The Afro-Asian Conference held in Bali from 20th-22nd July 1998 urges that ICID strives towards the fulfillment of the above mentioned objectives and hereby appeals to all governments of the Asian and African nations to take pro-active steps to ensure sustainable water and land development. Such affirmative action would enable the region to enter the new millennium with added assurance of food security and enhanced prospects of poverty alleviation."

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GRANADA ICID DECLARATION
September 1999

Fifty years, although a long time in the life of a person, is short in the development of a drainage basin. Nonetheless, 50 years is an appropriate time for the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) to take stock of its achievements and make an effort to address its weaknesses. In these 50 years ICID has increased its membership from 11 to 69 countries. The first Congress was attended by less than 100 delegates and this grand Congress in Granada in excess of 700 delegates. ICID started by publishing a periodic bulletin and now publishes a full fledged peer reviewed quarterly scientific journal, a web site and other means of disseminating information. ICID has progressed from not being recognized by other organizations to one whose counsel is sought by world leaders.

ICID encourages all stakeholders to irrigate and drain arable lands to their optimum efficiency, maximize food production and assure that water not used is recycled to the extent that is reasonably possible. Basin wide the use of water will be optimized, where applicable shared among states and regions and pollution will be controlled to an acceptable level.

ICID supports food security and proposes methods to conserve water by increasing the productivity per unit of water used, by reducing non beneficial uses, by relocating uses from low to high value crops, by tapping uncommitted outflows from systems, and by seeking new sources essential to meet additional demands.

Rehabilitation and modernization of systems will have to be brought about by encouraging the formation of water users organizations, by effective participation of users in the initial assessment of needs and by evaluating alternatives. ICID concludes that rehabilitation and modernization must result in additional benefits to farmers and be financially viable in that operation and maintenance costs should be at an acceptable level.

Irrigation, drainage and flood control of agricultural lands are no longer options. They are necessary for feeding billions of people, for providing employment for rural poor and for protecting the environment. With respect to this, ICID stresses that dams have played and will continue to play an important role in the development of water resources, especially in developing countries. A balance needs to be found between the requirements based on the needs of society, acceptable side effects and a sustainable environment.

The strategy for the future must be to optimize the use of water and mitigate its harmful effects. The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage resolves to continue its commitment to serve the world in determining methods of managing water for the production of food and fiber.


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NEW DELHI DECLARATION
January - February 2000

The 8th ICID International Drainage Workshop with the theme “Role of Drainage and Challenges in 21st Century” organised by the Indian National Committee on Irrigation & Drainage (INCID) attended by 260 delegates from 15 Countries and 12 International agencies was held from January 31st to February 4th, 2000. After considerable discussion, the workshop approves the following declaration :

The state of drainage development in many countries is far below the basic needs. In the last century, drainage was often considered as an adjunct to irrigation and was not considered as a discipline in its own right.

For increasing the agricultural productivity required by the growing population and sustainability, provision of adequate drainage is important. Sound drainage practices can achieve substantial increase in productivity and minimise the losses through waterlogging and salinity. An estimated 1/3rd of the irrigated land in the arid and semi arid zones faces salinisation hazards. Drainage, apart from improving food production, can also help progressively, as rural development proceeds in making agriculture more diversified and competitive, promoting rural well being, improving public health etc.

There are considerable differences in drainage problems and needs in different climatological regions. These differences should be taken into account in all drainage planning. The currently used classification should, however, be further defined and mapped. Reliable global information data on the drainage needs of rainfed land and on the waterlogging and salinization of irrigated land do not exist. Status and the collection and compilation of more precise upto-date dis-aggregated and meaningful statistics is a priority area for the early part of the new millenium. The development of drainage should more and more be seen within the context of broader integrated water and environmental management strategies at the catchment level.

The relationships between drainage and flood management need to be further clarified. Flood seems to occur in almost all regions, although nature and scales may differ considerably. Flood management is obviously a pre-condition for effective drainage, but improved drainage can also be part of a flood management strategy. While floods generated outside the agricultural drainage area are generally outside the domain of drainage, floods and inundation caused by local rainfall within such a catchment/area are generally within the drainage domain and should be addressed as such.

Under increasing competition for water from other uses like industrial and domestic water supply it may become necessary for reuse and recycling of drainage waters. Development of an integrated on-farm drainage management (IFDM) system, based on the principle that drainage water and salt are natural resources rather than toxic waste may hold the key for recycling. For removal of drainage water and for maintaining the ground water levels, the concept of “Bio-Drainage”, an environmentally friendly measure could hold promising possibilities. Further research is needed on some aspects of Bio-Drainage such as the salt balance. Due attention needs to be given to the downstream impacts of drainage interventions, including the pollution of drainage by agro-chemicals, or domestic and industrial waste. Disposal of low quality drainage waters in an environmentally sustainable way, requires continued attention and an integrated management approach.

The stake-holders participation in the planning, implementation and management of drainage systems is necessary. Integration of participatory irrigation and drainage management is highly desirable. Awareness programmes among the farmers in regard to the biological, physical and chemical indicators as preventive measures of waterlogging and secondary salinisation need to be encouraged. Farming communities and especially the women need to have enhanced skills in land and water management. Service oriented management, which provides a contract service agreement between stakeholders is especially to provide an effective accountability framework participation of end-users in the management of drainage systems. Financial sustainability of the operation and maintenance of drainage is important, but institutional models in this regard are not available. Guidelines for “ Participating Drainage Management” may be prepared.

Apart from basic research, focused research for problem solving is necessary. Drainage implementation projects need to reserve some money for research including action research, development and training activities. The tools of modelling and simulation need to be used in a large way. These tools would also assist in formulating well designed data collection programmes.

To tackle the drainage problems of Asian regions, promotion of close cooperation between the various existing Drainage Research Institutes dealing with drainage in the arid and semi-arid zones by way of exchange of information and technical programmes for collaboration through the IPTRID network need to be encouraged. For this purpose, it is recommended that these institutions be given International mandate extend their networking and R&D activities. For humid tropical zones, the cooperation as initiated by ICID and IPTRID needs to be further developed.

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TOKYO CONCLUSION OF THE WORKSHOP ICID 2000

Toward Sustainable Development in paddy Agriculture

July 2000

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), the Japanese National Committee of ICID organized a workshop in Tokyo from 24-28 July 2000. The workshop entitled as "The Asian Regional Workshop on Sustainable Development of Irrigation and Drainage for Rice Paddy Fields" was designed to support the activities of the Asian Regional Workshop Group of ICID as well as to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation among Asian countries. Delegates from countries in the monsoon region of Asia and rice producing countries as well as international organizations participated in the workshop and addressed their views and experiences in association with the said subject.

Most Asian countries which are located in the monsoon region attributed their economic development basically to paddy agriculture in the past. There is a common understanding that innovative technology in irrigation and drainage played a substantial role to the development and to the social and economic stability of the monsoon region of Asia, as well.

The continuing increase in the population and the growth of economy in the monsoon region of Asia, which inevitably affects the future demand for food, will call for more attention to the efficient development and management of land and water resources. Paddy agriculture, which is generally viewed as highly productive in terms of land and labour as well as an environmental-friendly measure, still needs innovative technologies and practices in order to achieve sustainable development. It is a shared recognition that these continuing efforts and achievements in the monsoon region of Asia will contribute, to a considerable extent, to the development of world agriculture.

Regarding the technological and socio-economic aspects of paddy agriculture, the Tokyo Workshop ICID 2000 has summarized the following prospects and issues to be challenged in close cooperation among countries concerned in the region :

  1. Paddy agriculture in the monsoon region of Asia has multi-functions, such as, reliable food supply to meet ever-increasing demand, economic development, land and environment conservation, and the vitalization of rural community. These multi-functions of paddy agriculture will continue to be effective for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas.

  2. Irrigation and drainage technologies play a key role in achieving sustainable development of paddy agriculture. The national commitment to the continuing research and development of these technologies needs to be increased to be extent possible.

  3. Rural area is endowed with a double-functional space for the activities of people' one is for production of food and the other for livelihood of the people. It will be necessary to take comprehensive measures to promote agriculture and to vitalize the rural area simultaneously, which has to take into consideration integrated land and water resources management, the improvement of the community environment, regional/basin planning approach, and institutional renovation as well as the construction of infrastructure for production. In this respect, it will be vital to build-up a network for international cooperation aimed at human resources development and technology transfer.

  4. It is recommended that countries in the monsoon region of Asia tackle proactively with the following issues :
    1. To continue the efforts of construction and modernization of irrigation and drainage facilities together with the establishment of water management institutions for the efficient use and control of water resources.

    2. To empower farmers to actively participate in forming farmer's associations for effective and integrated land and water resources management, as well as to recognize the important roles of women, and strengthen their capacity.

    3. To put more attention to the other salient functions of paddy agriculture and to strengthen these functions in practice, such as, preventing floods and soil erosion, securing water resources, improvement water quality, maintaining bio-diversity and empowering rural communities, and

    4. To establish a network of information and technology of agriculture and rural development on the basis of efficient irrigation and drainage management and to strengthen international linkages of farmers, engineers, researchers, academicians and government officials concerned.

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Spanish version of Cape Town Declaration

CAPE TOWN DECLARATION
October 2000


In all developing countries of the world, population growth puts pressure on available water resources and increases the demand for food. Technological and managerial improvements have led to higher food production and increases in the real per capita gross domestic product (GDP), a proxy for real income per head of the population. Over the last 50 years the GDP per capita has more than tripled for Asia, more than doubled for Latin America, but only increased by 55% for Africa. Furthermore, HIV Aids and tropical diseases like malaria will have a significant impact on Africa's GDP. It is estimated that by the end of the next decade GDP per capita will be approximately 5% less than in each country than it would have been without Aids.

Management of irrigation schemes is a complex task and the necessary managerial skills are often lacking, particularly in modern, often high technology, systems. This calls for increased professionalism in irrigation management through specialised service providers, using more sophisticated tools. The opportunity to provide this level of support for irrigation system management is often limited in practice, especially where irrigation is part of a development initiative.

Thus, planners and designers must understand users' needs clearly before they can offer appropriate technologies and designs for people to choose between. A user-orientated approach is recommended with the added provision that particular attention is paid to understanding and addressing the decision making priorities of stakeholder groups such as poor people, women and men. Improved access to irrigation, appropriate technologies for individual and collective operation and pro-poor institutional arrangements are recommended. Micro-irrigation is particularly suited to provide opportunities for irrigation for small scale enterprises and female-headed farming households.

The 51st IEC Meeting held in Cape Town, together with the Micro 2000 Congress and associated workshops concluded the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the ICID, by addressing burning issues relevant to irrigated agriculture on the African continent. Sensitive to the dynamics of food security, poverty alleviation and dwindling water resources, the ICID submits the following as recommendations for consideration and implementation.

1. APPROPRIATENESS OF MICRO-IRRIGATION FOR POOR WOMEN AND MEN INVOLVED IN FARMING

  • Micro-irrigation systems have great potential to create significant opportunities for smallholder agriculture, including farm operations managed by women.
  • Farmers and technical people must work together to analyse gender impacts and poverty reduction, ensure gender visibility and appropriate policies, technical development and research agendas and to disseminate lessons learned.
  • Appropriate and innovative use of micro and other irrigation, both inside and outside irrigation schemes should maximise poor women and men's access to land and water.
  • Micro-irrigation techniques and management may need to be adapted to specific needs of women and men.
  • Participatory involvement in design and management and in developing simple management procedures is needed to capture the benefits of water-saving strategies and technologies.
  • Men and women farmers should be involved in decision-making at all levels from field to river basin on technology choice and water management in proportions that reflects the gender balance among users.

2. APPROPRIATENESS OF MICRO-IRRIGATION TO SMALL FARMER DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Micro-irrigation can play a significant role in poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers in rural areas. It can contribute to increased crop yields of high-value crops such as vegetables and fruit, especially under conditions of water scarcity. Proper business management, including attention to crop choice, market outlets and access to credit is also needed to reap the benefits of improved product quality and higher yields.

3. APPLICABILITY OF MICRO-IRRIGATION TO COMPREHENSIVE PLANS TO REHABILITATE IRRIGATION SCHEMES

Micro-irrigation is one of numerous tools for rehabilitating irrigation projects. Whereas micro-irrigation is an application technology, softer techniques such as irrigation scheduling provide additional opportunity for significant and positive change.

The water economy feature of micro irrigation ensures it has an important role in water use efficiency and high production. Upgrading and modernising systems through attention to adequate storage and delivery facilities is required to assure a reliable water supply at the right time and amount.

4. TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO-IRRIGATION FOR SMALL FARMER DEVELOPMENT

Micro-irrigation has developed to the point where it is now available for developing agriculture. Further innovation and improvements should be undertaken by researchers, developmental institutions and the private sector. The aim should be to further reduce cost, to make technology ergonomically sound and acceptable to a wide range of users and to reduce and simplify managerial requirements. The availability and accessibility of support services will be one of the key success factors.

The relatively low cost per user has made micro-sprays and bucket-drip systems the delivery system of choice in an appreciable number of poverty-relief initiatives. Where systems were distributed free of charge, results have been mixed and generally negative.

5. EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEEDS

Education of potential users and advisors of the benefits of micro-irrigation is necessary to initiate a change process.

Small holder micro-irrigation development should always involve technical, business and management training for women and men farmers.

The training should be broadly based to include the operational, managerial agronomic and financial aspects, which can be accrued from a change to micro-irrigation. The training should utilise appropriate learning technology at the various levels of operation, from illiterate farmer to training of trainers at higher educational levels.

6. APPROPRIATENESS OF MICRO-IRRIGATION TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY WITH RELATIVELY SCARCE WATER RESOURCES

Micro-irrigation is an important tool in the drive towards food security. Its future impact on agricultural production, particularly of bio-income nature, will be determined by low-cost, appropriately designed systems and adequate training on the use of the system. Micro-irrigation has proved in many cases to be more cost effective than traditional surface irrigation systems with lined canals.

Scarce capital resources will be a constraint to investments in micro-irrigation. Promotion through private development and service providers will provide a foretaste of potential contributions and opportunity for development of low cost alternatives.

7. CONCLUSION

The Congress concluded that in view of the potential advantages of micro-irrigation, and in spite of the constraints it may have in a developing agriculture situation, currently available simplified versions of the technology can provide a stimulus to irrigated agriculture where food security is threatened and water the limiting resource.

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SEOUL DECLARATION
September 2001


The 52nd International Executive Council (IEC) Meeting and the 1st Asian Regional Conference of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) on the theme of "Agriculture, Water and Environment" was held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, from 16-21, from 16-21 September 2001. The issues of irrigation and drainage, irrigation system automation, water quality and water policy, environment, flood control, wastewater reuse and development of tidal swamps, particularly in the Asian region were discussed by some 600 participants from 45 countries and 12 international agencies. A total of 152 papers were presented of which about one third touched on rice irrigation reflecting the importance of rice cultivation in the monsoon Asia.

The 1st Asian Regional Conference, ICID 2001 Seoul envisages a vision of sustainable agriculture and water development in harmony with the environment for Asia and the world. This is necessary to meet the needs of global and national food security whilst increasing farm incomes, improving rural amenities and revitalizing local communities and cultures with minimal adverse impacts on nature and the environment.

The major conclusions by the participants of the Conference are the followings :

  1. Efforts for Improving water management, modernizing irrigation facilities, developing and applying new water saving irrigation techniques and reusing irrigation water will have to be initiated to cope with the likely future food and water shortages and deterioration of rural environment caused by rapid increase in population and economic growth in many developing countries. Efficient water management and comprehensive information systems are needed for the optimum distribution of water between irrigation and other water sectors, and conservation of eco-system and soil environment in the rural area.

  2. Irrigation system automation and real time monitoring can greatly contribute to reductions in water loss, labor cost and environmental impacts on agriculture and the natural environment; thus becoming one of the alternatives to overcome the deficiency of water and labor. Developing countries should be encouraged to expand the use of low cost and cost effective automation systems to meet future challenges.

  3. Increased attention to Irrigation water quality, better management of non-point source pollution and environment-friendly farming with low input of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is desired for keeping sustainable agricultural production, whilst conserving the rural environment.

  4. As water becomes a limiting resource, competitions, among water use sectors and disputes between upstream and downstream users and nations in sharing water have increased. Relevant laws and policies are needed to ensure such sharing which will have to be equitable and efficient.

  5. The rice culture in the monsoon region, particularly in Asia, has not only contributed greatly to providing a stable food supply for billions of people, but it has also contributed to economic growth, conservation of rural environment and various traditional cultures, and revitalization of rural communities. Therefore, improvement of irrigation and drainage practices, operation, maintenance and water management technologies in rice farming will have to be further intensified to ensure sustainability of agriculture and rural communities.

  6. Integrated flood control measures through improved land and water management and drainage systems, provisions of forecast and alert systems, and increasing surface water storage and ground water recharge will have to be promoted to reduce flood damages.

In order to achieve the vision of the 52nd IEC Meeting and the 1st Asian Regional Conference, the following recommendations are made.

  1. The provision of new low-cost high-efficiency irrigation and drainage systems with low impacts to the natural environment will ensure sustainable agriculture and water development as well as conservation of the environment.

  2. Competition in water use and deterioration of water quality have resulted in less water being made available for agriculture. Water saving irrigation techniques and water quality management measures will have to be promoted in order to cope with the decreasing water availability and the pollution of water.

  3. Increases in input and support from both the public and the private sectors for the development of future oriented, cost effective and environment-friendly irrigation and drainage systems, the rehabilitation of old irrigation and drainage facilities, and the automation of water management will ensure food production.

  4. Close cooperation among the Asian countries for promotion of rice culture, increase in irrigation efficiency, improvement of water quality and rural environment, revitalization of rural communities and better management of floods in the region will have to be ensured.

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ICID YALTA DECLARATION
May 2002


Preamble

The 1st International Workshop on Irrigation Management Transfer in Countries with a Transition Economy was held from 18-22 May, 2002 in Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine. The workshop was organized by the European Regional Working Group (ERWG) of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and its European Work Team on Sustainable Irrigation Management (EWTSIM) and by the Republic Committee for Water Management of Crimea, with support of :

The World Bank; Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine; State Committee for Water Management of Ukraine; German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ); Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Science (UAAS); Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Land Reclamation, Kiev, Ukraine; and Alterra Green World Research Institute, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Irrigation management transfer is the process to delegate the management responsibility and authority for irrigation systems, previously held by governmental institutions, to farmers or organizations of water users. It may also include the transfer of ownership of parts of the systems. Such transfers are in particular taking place in countries with transition economies and are in line with the significant changes from their tradition of centralized planning and production systems into a market economy.
Professionals from the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, The Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, the World Bank and ICID contributed to the workshop with keynotes and country reports, discussed the relevant issues and agreed on the underneath recommendations and actions.

Conclusions and recommendations

  1. The primary objective of irrigation is to support sustainable agricultural production. In the countries with transition economies the future of the agricultural sector and rural development is still to a large extent uncertain. A number of the countries are in the process of accession to the European Union, which to a certain extent may even increase the uncertainty. This uncertainty has its repercussions for decisions on the extent of and modes for sustainable irrigation development and management.
  2. In all the countries the major part of the existing irrigation systems is in a bad state, or even abandoned. Socio-economic and legal aspects of this economic transition are linked to this critical situation. Specific problems concern: the layout of the systems, which is mostly based on the former large-scale kolchoz and sovchoz type of agricultural production, the transfer of irrigation system management from the traditional government agencies towards water management agencies and water users associations, the funding of modernization and resulting operation and maintenance, lack of good governance, unaffordable pumping systems and environmental degradation.
  3. In most of the countries there is a significant potential of unexploited agricultural production capacity. Opening up of this capacity will reduce, or prevent the requirement of food imports, create the potential for export of agricultural products. It will also significantly contribute to sustainable rural development. If developed on a sustainable basis, irrigation can play a significant role in such a process.
  4. There is an urgent and clearly identified need for institutional reform in irrigation as a precondition for the modernization of the existing irrigation systems. In order to enable the formulation and implementation of sustainable solutions experience with various potential modes of irrigation development and management will have to be obtained. The participants of the workshop recommend their national governments and the international (donor) organizations to support the implementation of the irrigation reform process.
  5. During the workshop several basic requirements in the legal, economical and organizational structures were identified and recommendations concerning these aspects were formulated :
  • legislation and regulation : it is highly recommended that when developing national water legislation for the countries with transition economies to a maximum use will be made of the statements of the EU Water Framework Directive, which takes into consideration environmental economic and social conditions of the country as well as technological features of irrigation and drainage systems;
  • institutions and organisation: after institutional reforms:
    Clarity must exist regarding responsibilities and accountabilities;
    Water users should participate in water management decisions at all levels;
  • financing and economy: there is a need for a transformation towards a viable financial basis for irrigation (substantial government funding and incentives for modernization and declining support for operation and maintenance, and an increasing farmers share for operation and maintenance up to the level of full cost recovery within a timeframe of five years).

Agreed actions

  1. The proceedings of this first workshop will be published in English at short notice. A summarized translation in Russian will be prepared;
  2. The European Regional Working Group (ERWG) will disseminate the results of the Yalta Workshop;
  3. In each country a comprehensive analysis on the present situation of irrigation management, the problems, as well as the development and management options for sustainable irrigation in future will be made as agreed. This activity will generally require financial support and special assistance of the concerned national authorities.
  4. The 2nd International Workshop will be organized in Macedonia in spring 2003. The objectives of this workshop will be :
    •   To study and compare the problems in irrigation management that the participatory countries are facing;
    •   To formulate sustainable solutions for irrigation development and management, taking into account the special     circumstances of the countries in transition;
    •   To prepare a comprehensive publication on the subject.
  5. The European Work Team on Sustainable Irrigation Management (EWTSIM) will promote interchange of information between the activities mentioned here and the following programs and projects :
  • Pilot projects and activities on Irrigation Management Transfer in the concerned countries;
  • Global Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment, with the special objective to support the sustainable implementation of land reform and irrigation management transfer processes in the Ukraine;
  • Dutch-Ukrainian Project towards improved Water management in Ukraine (WATERMUK).

 

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THE MONTREAL ICID DECLARATION
July 2002


The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage considered Food Production Under Conditions of Water Scarcity as the main theme at its 18th Congress in Montreal, Canada. Thus food production under limited water and the integration of irrigation, drainage and flood control were of primary concern to over 800 delegates.

Life cannot exist without water. ICID recognizes the importance of this vital and scarce resource in producing the food required to meet the needs of an ever-increasing world population. Since agriculture in developing countries consumes about 85% of its water to meet their needs, this Congress declares that new management tools are needed to increase food production.

This Congress also declares that national and regional policies need developing. These include the inter-basin transfer of water, protecting coastal lands from the intrusion of saline water, various water saving techniques with special reference to arid and semi-arid tropical areas and the inclusion of all stakeholders in making decisions regarding water management.

We declare that alleviating poverty while ensuring the sustainability of the environment under conditions of limited water resources and continuing growth of the population is of vital concern. We recognize that food production in the past was primarily linked to the world's land resources. Today, however, water is the main limiting factor for agriculture and food production. Thus the supply, quality and efficient use of water will dominate agricultural production.

Since the poor are often the hardest hit by water-related problems, water security should be part of any poverty alleviation program. Also the increase in the world's population places great demands upon the agricultural sector. These demands can only be resolved through the efficient use of irrigation and drainage. They are the cornerstones of world food security. To meet them we must improve irrigation efficiency on existing lands and encourage participatory management in all systems.

ICID recognizes the importance of integrating the management of irrigation, drainage and flood control. It emphasizes the need to design adequate drainage systems concurrently with the design of each irrigation system. This will minimize salinization and water logging thus optimizing the efficacy of each irrigation system.

We declare that private sector participation is a necessary and desirable mechanism to augment investment in upgrading the performance of irrigation systems. To achieve success with such participation, careful consideration of the legal, economic and resource management mechanisms are needed.

The fact that irrigation plays a critical role in producing the world's food supplies is not well appreciated by most people, ICID will develop an education program that provides the necessary information to help people understand the importance of irrigation in their lives.

Women and young professionals are playing an ever-increasing role in the design and management of irrigation and drainage systems. Thus we declare that their active participation in the affairs of our Commission be encouraged.

Finally, as research scientists, engineers and practitioners in irrigation, drainage and flood control we declare that we will use all available relative knowledge in the execution of our duties.

 

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UTRECHT DECLARATION
September 2003


“Drainage is an integral part of integrated water resources management. The role of drainage has to be communicated better in this broader perspective, both within and outside the drainage community. The drainage community has to stick out its neck to make the “invisible” visible. As a first step, 15 action plans have been formulated and the participants have committed themselves to these plans. “Drainage ambassadors for IWRM” should be appointed at international and national levels to get the drainage community more involved in the agenda setting of water policies. Long-term partnerships with all stakeholders are effective conduits for joint action to solve critical water management problems.”

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MOSCOW DECLARATION
September 2004


The Moscow Inter-regional Conference was participated by delegates from Egypt, Malaysia, Jordan, Mali, Chad, Indonesia, Albania, Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, India, Great Britain, Nepal, Slovenia, China, Canada, the USA, Cameroon, Germany, Hungary, Estonia, Poland, Ghana, France, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Switzerland, Pakistan, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Korea, Bulgaria, Thailand, Burkina Faso, Sri-Lanka, Portugal, Palestine, Senegal, Finland, Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan.

A tendency of lower and reduced growth in food production globally is seen in the past few years and the ICID Task Force on "Global Food Security" felt that it can adversely impact the Food Security if corrective measures are not taken. Apart from availability, affordability and distribution of food on an equitable basis for poor people in certain parts of the World were questions forming other important aspects affecting food security. While acknowledging the need for an enhanced agricultural production to meet the overall requirements, all such measures which will fairly guarantee environmental sustainability must also be integrated. In many cases, effective measures and enabling provisions and legislations are required. Building up a 'Scientific and technical knowledge base' for the Development and maintenance of agricultural landscapes is a must with an advancement in technology. Socio Economic aspects are important in evolving a Strategy of action to achieve the goals set for Water and Food Security. ICID events planned during IEC Moscow 2004 and the Inter-regional Conference of on Food Production and Water identified a few constituent elements for the Strategic Task as follows :

  • Need for a legislation for realization of projects that comply with the requirements of high technologies of growing of zoned agricultural crops on the basis of adaptive-landscape farming
  • Introduction of a system for integral appraisal of fertility of irrigated and drained lands on the basis of indices of environmental and reclamation condition of these lands and productivity of agricultural lands;
  • Overall introduction of modeling of various water consumption scenarios and assessment of a possibility of irrigation water saving and monitoring of reclaimed lands;
  • Elaboration of systems for training and capacity building of farmers and specialists working on irrigated and drained lands with regard to education in the methods of water management improvement in agriculture and assessment of optimal water resource management to meet the needs of agriculture taking into consideration environmental requirements;
  • Financing of irrigation and drainage works and water management, both from State and private financing agencies.

The Moscow Inter-regional Conference recommends that :

  • There is a need for an analysis of institutional structures on management of sustainable development of irrigation and drainage and highlight specific features, enabling legislations for financial support, taxation, insurance etc in due consideration to available reform systems; requisite documentation for attracting public and private investments indicating principles for credit by International and Intergovernmental organizations are also to be evolved.
  • An analysis of all the past Declarations adopted at ICID congresses, conferences and workshops is made and results brought out in Beijing Congress in September 2005.
  • An Analytical Review of irrigation and drainage status in various countries of the world and role and necessity of irrigation and drainage for food security is prepared and published in 2006.
  • The possibility to create international courses for specialists and scientists from developing countries and countries with transitional economics for study of experiences of advanced countries with highly developed market economy is duly considered.

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THE BEIJING DECLARATION
September 2005

19th ICID Congress, Beijing, China

Delegates of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) from 56 countries met in Beijing during the 19th ICID Congress to focus on the theme of "Use of Water and Land for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability".

In due consideration to the principles of Sustainable Development and in line with the decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, calling on countries to develop Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and water efficiency plans by 2005 and to achieve water efficiency for sustainable food security for all people;

Recognizing that the progress achieved in regard to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for halving the world poverty and hunger by 2015 has not been satisfactory and the dire need for vigorous action in the coming decades will be urgently required to avert world crisis;

Noting that irrigation in the world today accounts for 70% of all fresh water withdrawals which are used to irrigate 17% of all cropped land yielding 40% of the overall agricultural outputs worldwide;

Considering that ICID has made the commitment to take its message to the World Water Fora;

Therefore, ICID member countries attending the 19th Congress make the following Declaration and Recommendations for the attention of world leaders and decision makers :

  • ICID has formulated its position towards the challenges in four position papers, being: (i) Global Issues Related to Food Production, Security and Trade; (ii) Irrigation and Drainage Services - Some Principles and Issues Towards Sustainability; (iii) Country Policy Support Program (CPSP); and (iv) Promoting Appropriate Decision-Making Procedures for New Dams, particularly for Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Management. Through its workbodies, congresses and conferences, ICID promotes improved water management practices in support of food production, livelihood in rural areas and environmental sustainability. The Commission disseminates its messages through its network: its website www.icid.org, Newsletters and Updates, its Journal Irrigation and Drainage and its Congress and Conference Proceedings.
  • The key to increase future food production lies in expansion of irrigated and drained lands where potential exists; in better water and land management in existing irrigated and drained areas; and in increase in water use efficiency and land productivity.
  • Even while acknowledging the best efforts to achieve a control in the growth trend, the needs of over eight hundred million people by 2025 are still to be met. Despite an apparent sufficiency in the world food production, the inequity and the problem of malnutrition in Least Developed Countries persist and about 20% of the world's poor people still starve or are underfed. The global food production will have to be doubled to achieve satisfactory food security for all.
  • Irrigation will play a greater and dependable role in meeting future food demands than in the past. The goal shall be to achieve 'Grow More Food with Less Drops'. This will be feasible with the advancement in technology, modernization, better management of irrigation and, where applicable, drainage systems. Further efforts to explore ways to produce more food with less water under sustainable conditions would have to continue through Research and Development, Capacity Building and spread of Technology.
  • Fresh water resources are being stretched to their limits in several regions and countries, which calls for an utmost consideration of efficient use so as to safeguard environmental sustainability. IWRM shall be the key in such cases.
  • Given the need of the least developed countries where there is population pressure and an increased food requirement, installation of small-scale, low-cost irrigation and/or drainage systems in cultivated lands without such systems so far will have to be seriously considered. In addition, potential land for cultivation may have to be reclaimed. Increasing the water storage capacity for food production and the investment needs in such cases deserve priority. The resources will be required to be exploited in a sensitive manner with due consideration to environmental sustainability.
  • The dire challenge to professionals working in the field of irrigation, drainage and flood control lies in their ability to design, operate and maintain a new generation of efficient water management systems, while sustaining ecosystems and the environment. Integrated approaches in the sector should bring in not only scientific and technical, but also the socio-economical and environmental aspects.
  • Increasing population has led to the settlement in and cultivation of flood prone areas resulting in increased emphasis on flood management in many regions, particularly South- and East Asia. This region has a population of over 2.9 billion, which is nearly half of that of the world. It is estimated that about 80% of the population will live in flood prone areas by 2050. In addition to heavy rainfall and floods, huge man-induced changes such as uncontrolled land reclamation and inadequate land use planning, may increase the vulnerability of flood prone areas. An integrated flood management approach including structural and non-structural measures based on risk management principles with public participation, is required to mitigate losses due to flood hazards. It is noted that living in harmony with Nature is essential to managing floods.
  • Financial allocation for development or operation and maintenance of existing irrigation and drainage systems has not been adequate for many existing water management systems, bringing such systems in danger of being unable to perform their function. Low water prices and inappropriate management are also causes of low water use efficiency and waterlogging and soil salinity. Institutional reforms in the public sector and emergence of professionally managed community based organisations will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of water and land rights, appropriate legal and institutional framework and better performance measures and assessments.
  • Inter-sectoral, and in some cases regional competition for water are factors of major concern and have to be resolved by objective studies which can provide useful Country Policy Support indicators. Interdisciplinary efforts to comprehensively address water assessment can help to promote a better trade off in case of conflicts.

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DECLARACIÓN DE PEKÍN
Septiembre de 2005

19th ICID Congress, Beijing, China

Delegados de la Comisión Internacional de Riegos y Drenajes (ICID) de 56 países se reunieron en Pekín durante el 19º Congreso para centrar su atención en el tema "El Uso del Agua y el Territorio para la Seguridad Alimenticia y el Mantenimiento del Medio Ambiente"

Con la debida consideración a los principios del Desarrollo Sostenible y en línea con las decisiones de la Cumbre Mundial sobre Desarrollo Sostenible, que piden a los países la realización de una Gestión Integrada de los Recursos Hídricos (IWRI) y de planes de eficiencia del agua, antes del 2005, para lograr una eficiencia del agua que asegure la alimentación sostenible de todas las personas;

Reconociendo que no ha sido satisfactorio el avance alcanzado, en relación con las Metas de Desarrollo del Milenio (MDG), de reducir a la mitad la pobreza y el hambre, para el 2015, y que, en las próximas décadas, se necesitará adoptar urgentemente una acción enérgica para evitar la crisis mundial;

Destacando que, actualmente, el riego en el mundo consume el 70% de todos los recursos de agua dulce, y que estos se emplean para regar el 17% de las tierras cultivables, con una producción del 40% de todas las cosechas agrícolas del mundo;

Considerando que la ICID ha cumplido con el compromiso de llevar este mensaje a todos los Foros de Agua del Mundo;

Consecuentemente, los países miembros de la ICID que asistieron al 19º Congreso, hacen la Declaración y las Recomendaciones siguientes, a la atención de los dirigentes mundiales y de los responsables de tomas de decisiones :

  • La ICID ha formulado su postura ante los retos que afronta en cuatro documentos de posición, a saber: (i) Aspectos Globales relacionados con la Producción de Alimentos, su Seguridad y Comercio; (ii) Los Servicios de Riego y Drenaje - Algunos Principios y Aspectos Dirigidos a la Durabilidad; (iii) Programa de Apoyo a la Política del País (CPSP); y (iv) El Fomento de Métodos para las Tomas de Decisión, Adecuadas para Nuevas Presas, en especial las de Riego, Drenaje y Gestión de Avenidas. A través de sus órganos de trabajo, congresos y conferencias, la ICID promueve prácticas mejoradas de gestión en apoyo de la producción de alimentos, de los medios de subsistencia en las zonas rurales y del mantenimiento del medio ambiente. La Comisión difunde sus mensajes a través de su red: su página web, http://www.icid.org/, sus Boletines y Noticias de Actualidad, su Journal Irrigation and Drainage y las Actas de sus Congresos y Conferencias.
  • La clave para elevar la producción de alimentos radica en el aumento de los terrenos regados y drenados, en los que existe potencial; en una mejor gestión del agua y el suelo en zonas ya regadas y drenadas; y en la elevación de la eficiencia del uso del agua y de la productividad del campo.
  • Incluso reconociendo los mejores esfuerzos para lograr controlar las tendencias de crecimiento, queda aún bastante para que las necesidades de más de ochocientos millones de personas puedan ser cubiertas, en 2025. A pesar de una aparente suficiencia mundial de producción de alimentos, persiste la injusticia y el problema de desnutrición en los Países Menos Desarrollados y, alrededor del 20 % de los pueblos más pobres del mundo continúa muriéndose de hambre o está subalimentado. Para alcanzar una seguridad alimentaria que sea satisfactoria para todos deberá duplicarse la producción mundial de alimentos.
  • El riego jugará un papel mayor y más fiable que en el pasado para cubrir las futuras demandas de alimentos. El objetivo deberá ser lograr "Producir Mas Alimento con Menos Gotas". Esto será posible con los avances de la tecnología, la modernización, la mejor gestión del riego y, donde sea de aplicación, de los sistemas de drenaje. Deben continuar los esfuerzos para explorar caminos para producir más alimentos con menos agua, en condiciones sostenibles, mediante la Investigación y el Desarrollo, la Capacitación y la difusión de la Tecnología.
  • En muchas regiones y países los recursos de agua dulce están siendo apurados hasta sus límites, lo que reclama la máxima consideración para su utilización eficiente de manera que la durabilidad del medio ambiente quede preservada. En tales casos la clave deberá ser la Gestión Integrada de los Recursos Hídricos (IWRM).
  • Dada la necesidad de los países menos desarrollados, en los que existe una presión demográfica y unos requerimientos crecientes de alimentos, deberá ser considerada seriamente la instalación de pequeños sistemas de riego y/o de drenaje, y de bajo coste, en terrenos cultivados que, hasta ahora, carecen de ellos. Además de esto podrían recuperarse terrenos potencialmente cultivables. En tales casos merecen prioridad el incremento de la capacidad de almacenamiento de agua para la producción de alimentos y las necesidades de inversión. Los recursos tendrán que ser explotados de forma sensata, prestando la debida consideración al mantenimiento duradero del medio ambiente.
  • El mayor reto para los profesionales que trabajan en el campo del riego, el drenaje y el control de inundaciones, reside en su capacidad para proyectar, explotar y mantener una nueva generación de métodos eficientes de gestión del agua, al tiempo que mantienen los ecosistemas y el medio ambiente. Los enfoques integrados en el sector deben ocuparse de aspectos no solo científicos y técnicos, sino también socioeconómicos y medioambientales.
  • El incremento demográfico ha llevado al establecer asentamientos y a cultivar zonas con riesgo de inundación, lo que ha dado mayor énfasis a estos fenómenos en muchas regiones y, en particular en el Sur y el Este de Asia, en donde reside una población que supera los 2900 millones de personas, lo que supone casi la mitad de la población del mundo. Se estima que para el año 2025, el 80 % de la población vivirá en zonas propensas a las inundaciones. Además de las lluvias intensas y de las inundaciones, los grandes cambios inducidos por la actividad humana, como pueden ser la recuperación incontrolada de terrenos y la planificación inadecuada del uso del suelo, pueden aumentar la vulnerabilidad de las zonas susceptibles de inundación. Para reducir las pérdidas por riesgo de inundaciones es preciso un enfoque de gestión integrada de la inundación que incluya medidas estructurales, y no estructurales, basadas en los principios de gestión del riesgo, con participación pública. Se destaca que, para gestionar las inundaciones, es esencial vivir en armonía con la Naturaleza.
  • La asignación financiera para el establecimiento o la explotación y mantenimiento de algunos sistemas existentes de riego y drenaje no ha sido la adecuada en muchos de los sistemas actuales de gestión, lo que ha puesto a tales sistemas en peligro de no ser capaces de cumplir con sus especificaciones. También, los bajos precios del agua y su gestión inadecuada son causa de la baja eficiencia de su uso, de los encharcamientos y de la salinización del suelo. Las reformas institucionales del sector público y el surgimiento de organizaciones basadas en comunidades gestionadas profesionalmente mejorarán la eficiencia y la efectividad de los derechos de agua y del suelo, así como el marco legal e institucional y las medidas y estimaciones del comportamiento de los sistemas.
  • La competencia intersectorial, y en algunos casos regional, por el agua, son factores de mayor preocupación y tienen que ser resueltos mediante estudios objetivos que pueden proporcionar indicadores útiles para el Apoyo de la Política del País. En caso de conflictos los esfuerzos interdisciplinarios para acometer de forma completa la estimación del agua pueden ayudar a alcanzar un mejor equilibrio.

 

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Spanish Version

KUALA LUMPUR STATEMENT
September 2006

57th IEC meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The UN's commitment to eradicate 'Poverty and hunger' as reflected in the crucial Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) asks for concerted action in the 9 years now left with to achieve the targets set in to reduce the number of poor and hungry people to half. The Kuala Lumpur conference brought home the fact that modern irrigated agriculture is a proven and effective strategy to address both the issues of poverty and food insecurity.

Modern irrigated agriculture helps enhanced productivity, conservation of resources for optimal uses and helps sustainable environment. It brought home that good returns from private sector involvement are feasible to improve the balance of trade situation of the nations. This has to be coupled with adequate support to downstream agro industries.

ICID is the premier international organisation concerned with managing water for sustainable agriculture and its annual Executive Council meetings, related business meetings of workbodies and workshops confirmed the findings from Asian Regional Conference on 'Transforming Irrigated Agriculture into an Efficient Engine of Growth'.

It comes up with the following 'Kuala Lumpur Statement'.

  • ICID sees in the micro-irrigation technology enormous potential to raise farm incomes while saving water through precise delivery of water and fertilizer to crops. Inexpensive small-scale versions of this technology can be used on the smallest of land holdings, making the benefits available to even the poorest smallholders.
  • ICID is concerned with the full spectrum of agricultural water management practices, ranging from rainfed agriculture to full irrigation and taking in water harvesting, field drainage, supplemental irrigation from groundwater, one-time irrigation from spates, and planned deficit irrigation.
  • ICID affirms its primary purpose to be managing water for sustainable agriculture, in which agriculture is a part of an eco-system that has a productive role essential to rural livelihoods, and also has cultural and social functions.
  • ICID finds that irrigated agriculture is often the main engine of a nation's economic growth, with significant benefits accruing to trade, agro-processing, manufacturing, and job creation in urban centres.
  • ICID recognizes the rapidly growing demand for bio-energy and the potential competition among food, fibre, and energy for limited resources of land and water. ICID will work with agriculture-as-a-business as it responds to the changing demands of society, demands which include a growing appreciation of the value of the environment.
  • ICID recognizes outstanding contributions to saving water through its WatSave Awards. After ten years of presenting such awards, ICID will expand their scope to honour outstanding contributions to increased water productivity.
  • ICID finds that irrigation system modernisation using an integrated and participatory approach can raise agricultural productivity significantly, often without increasing the total use of water, and is addressing that need.
  • ICID recognizes the impending impact of Global Climate Change on both irrigated and rainfed agriculture worldwide and is working to help water managers and policy makers anticipate and adapt to these changes.
  • ICID recognises that variability in agricultural water supplies, particularly in the wake of changes induced by global warming, is a critical threat to agricultural livelihoods and food security. Storage, both natural and in reservoirs, is a key to reducing unreliability and ICID will work to improve management of stored water to address the challenges at the interface of water, land, livelihoods, and the environment.
  • ICID will work with other organisations in the water sector, especially UN-Water and the World Water Council, to help achieve Millennium Development Goals related to water and hunger.
  • ICID is a multi-disciplinary professional organisation dependent on the voluntary contribution of its members, especially through its network of national committees. It salutes their achievements.

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DECLARACIÓN DE KUALA LUMPUR

57th IEC meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

El compromiso de las Naciones Unidas para erradicar "la Pobreza y el Hambre", tal como se refleja en las cruciales Metas de Desarrollo del Milenio (MDGs), pide una acción concertada para lograr, en los 9 años que aún quedan, los objetivos de reducir a la mitad el número de pobres y de personas hambrientas. La Conferencia de Kuala Lumpur ha hecho comprender que la agricultura de riego moderna es una estrategia comprobada y efectiva para tratar, tanto el tema de la pobreza, como el de la inseguridad de alimentos.

La agricultura de regadío moderna ayuda a elevar la productividad, a economizar los recursos para optimizar su uso y a sostener el medio ambiente. Ha hecho que se entienda que los buenos rendimientos de la participación del sector privado son viables para mejorar la balanza comercial de las naciones. Esto debe ir acompañado del adecuado apoyo a las agroindustrias de aguas abajo.

La Comisión Internacional de Riegos y Drenajes (ICID) es la primera organización internacional competente en la gestión del agua para una agricultura sostenible y las reuniones anuales de su Consejo Ejecutivo, así como las respectivas reuniones de sus órganos de trabajo y talleres, han confirmado los resultados de la Conferencia Regional Asiática sobre el tema "Transformar la Agricultura de Regadío en una Máquina Eficiente de Crecimiento"

De ello surge la siguiente "Declaración de Kuala Lumpur":

  • La ICID ve en la tecnología del microrriego un enorme potencial para elevar los ingresos de la explotación agrícola, al tiempo que ahorra agua mediante la precisa aplicación de agua y fertilizantes a los cultivos. En las parcelas y propiedades de menor tamaño pueden utilizarse pequeños equipos de microrriego y así lograr que sus beneficios alcancen incluso a los agricultores más pobres.
  • A la ICID le compete todo tipo de prácticas de gestión del agua en la agricultura, desde la agricultura de secano (solo con lluvias) a la enteramente regada y la recogida de lluvias, el drenaje agrícola, el riego suplementario con aguas subterráneas, el riego único por crecidas y el riego deficitario planificado.
  • La ICID afirma que su principal fin es la gestión del agua para una agricultura sostenible, en la que la agricultura es parte de un ecosistema que desempeña un papel productivo esencial para la supervivencia rural y que también tiene funciones culturales y sociales.
  • La ICID considera que la agricultura de regadío es, a menudo, la principal máquina de crecimiento económico de la nación, con beneficios significativos para el comercio, los procesos agrícolas, la industria y la creación de empleo en los centros urbanos.
  • La ICID es consciente del rápido incremento de la demanda de bioenergía y de la potencial competencia entre los alimentos, la fibra y la energía por unos recursos limitados de territorio y de agua. La ICID trabajará con la agricultura-como-negocio, pues esto responde a los cambios de demandas de la sociedad, que cada vez aprecia más el valor del medio ambiente.
  • La ICID reconoce notables contribuciones al ahorro de agua a través de sus Premios WatSave. Tras diez años de concesión de tales premios la ICID va a ampliar su ámbito para galardonar las contribuciones orientadas a incrementar la productividad del agua.
  • La ICID considera que la modernización de los sistemas de riego, empleando un enfoque integrado y participativo, puede elevar significativamente la productividad agrícola, a menudo sin incrementar el uso total del agua, y se está ocupando de esta necesidad.
  • La ICID reconoce el inminente impacto del Cambio Climático Global, tanto sobre la agricultura de secano como la de regadío en todo el mundo y está trabajando para ayudar a los gestores del agua y creadores de políticas a que se anticipen y adapten a estos cambios.
  • La ICID reconoce que la variabilidad de los suministros de agua a la agricultura, especialmente después de los cambios inducidos por el calentamiento global, es una amenaza crítica para los medios de subsistencia agrícolas y para la seguridad alimentaria. El almacenamiento, tanto natural como mediante embalses, es la clave para reducir la falta de garantía y la ICID trabajará para mejorar la gestión del agua almacenada con el fin de responder a los retos de la relación agua-territorio-medios de subsistencia-medio ambiente.
  • La ICID trabajará con otras organizaciones del sector del agua, especialmente con la de UN-Water y el Consejo Mundial del Agua (WWC), para ayudar a lograr las Metas de Desarrollo del Milenio relacionadas con el agua y el hambre.
  • La ICID es una organización profesional multidisciplinar, que depende de la contribución voluntaria de sus miembros, especialmente a través de su red de Comités Nacionales, a los que felicita por sus logros.

 

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Declaration of Tehran on Participatory Irrigation Management
2-5 May, Tehran, Iran

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), and the International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management (INPIM), under their mandates to hold Regional Conferences and the International Seminars, respectively, jointly held the 4th Asian Regional Conference and the 10th International Seminar on "Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)" during May 2-5, 2007 in Tehran, Iran. This joint international event was organized and hosted by the Iranian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (IRNCID) - one of the active ICID's National Chapters, and the INPIM. Over 900 experts, professionals, policy makers, planners, researchers, managers, donors, development partners and representatives from national, regional and international organizations from 40 countries participated in the event.

This global event provided an important forum to stakeholders for reporting and discussing issues, challenges and options for agricultural water management, specifically focusing on participatory approaches to irrigation management, sharing knowledge, experiences, lessons and promoting best practices and innovative ideas on PIM. The forum presented over 110 papers - covering a wide range of PIM aspects from a variety of situations - on the following three sub-themes :

  1. Review of participatory measures in Irrigation - that focused on success stories and experiences with implemented and proposed PIM frameworks and models,
  2. Required grounds and facilities for PIM - that discussed organizational reforms, legal frameworks and norms, socio-cultural and political grounds, and
  3. Support system for PIM sustainability - that critically looked into required policies and strategies, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and capacity building and training needs.

In the agricultural water sector, the importance of participatory approach to irrigation management is now widely recognized by governments, donors, agencies and other stakeholders. While PIM as a concept and approach has been in vogue for over two decades with varying degrees of successes, the fascinating and challenging debates on emerging PIM issues continue. As irrigation reforms progress, issues continue to emerge, alternative PIM models and frameworks continue to be experimented in diverse local environments, and PIM approaches continue to be evolved and refined. Importantly, as water becomes scarce and faces intense sectoral competition in most settings in the world, there is an increasing need to better use and manage each single drop of water. And the PIM approach to irrigation management assumes greater than ever significance in such settings. In view of this, more than 60 countries have embarked upon PIM reforms aimed at improving irrigation management and making irrigation systems sustainable. These countries represent some 80 percent of global irrigated area.

The Event Declaration

Taking note of discussions, deliberations and recommendations of the stakeholders, the Event :

  1. Reaffirms the critical importance of irrigation for enhancing productivity, employment, farm incomes and food security - promoting agricultural and economic growth and reducing poverty. It is recognized that the positive impacts of irrigation can be substantially increased through interventions that address issues related to inequities in land and water distribution, water allocation within and across sectors, maintenance and management of irrigation infrastructure, access to improved production technologies and agricultural support measures - with greater emphasis on pro-poor approach to such interventions.
  2. Recognizes that there are enormous challenges and complex set of issues facing irrigation sector - from basin level to watercourse and field levels - but so are the opportunities. The forum emphasizes the need for reengaging in the sector and calls for increased investments from both public and private sources not only for expanding irrigation, where needed, but also for reforming and modernizing existing irrigation systems - with focus on right kind of investments with sound institutions that deliver larger benefits to the poor.
  3. Recognizes that PIM is now a widely accepted approach and its implementation is a worldwide phenomenon; there is a general consensus on the need for further promoting, strengthening and expanding PIM reforms in irrigation sector across countries; and in many countries PIM is becoming a central component of irrigation/water policies.
  4. Highlights that PIM approach delivers a number of positive outcomes and impacts for stakeholders, including the following: (a) empowers farmers, (b) leads to better system maintenance and service, (c) reduces cost of irrigation to the government, (d) improves productivity and profitability of agriculture and water use, and (e) leads to innovations in irrigation management and agriculture in general. However, the magnitude of such outcomes and impacts and the degree of PIM reform success and sustainability have varied across settings and have depended on a number of factors such as clarity and strength of institutional and legal framework, higher level political will and local level leadership, financial and technical resources, access to support services, incentive system, capacity building and training etc. Understanding these and other facilitating or constraining factors (institutional, financial, socio-economic, agricultural and hydrological) is important for further strengthening and expanding PIM reforms.
  5. Suggests that efforts being made in promoting PIM reforms should be continued and further strengthened, greater emphasis is needed on ensuring equity in sharing benefits of PIM reforms and sustainability of such benefits - under the pro-poor framework. The stakeholders call for broadening the framework of PIM from simple 'transfer' to an instrument of 'restructuring' the water sector for improving its performance, ensuring equitable water access and allowing transition to a sustainable and integrated management and use of water resources. It is suggested that PIM approach can provide an important mechanism and venue for tackling water resources management issues.
  6. Emphasizes the need for greater attention during post-intervention phase of PIM reforms, especially on the following areas:

    (a) Support Services (long term support in consultation with farmers/ users while avoiding increasing dependency).
    (b) Monitoring and Evaluation (multi-perspective and participatory approach with emphasis on a third party/private sector based on a set of robust indicators).
    (c) Capacity Development (substantial and prolonged capacity development at the level of policy environment, institutional strengthening and individual development).
    (d) System of Incentives to promote performance and innovation.
    (e) Financial Strength (WUAs resource mobilization and revenue generation capacity).

  7. Points out that so far PIM reforms have focused on 'downstream' side of reforms, that is, on establishing and strengthening WUAs, and only little attention has been paid to 'upstream side', that is, on reforming public irrigation agencies. For success of PIM reforms, reforming public irrigation agency is as important as establishing WUAs. There is a need to clearly define new roles and responsibilities of the public irrigation agency, and its capacity needs to be developed to enable it to adapt to its new roles.
  8. Encourage action research on PIM reforms through pilot testing within a framework for learning and scaling up. Pilot experiments may be necessary to clarify modalities and generate support for innovation and for creating a common vision for developing a national strategy. Pilot activities for PIM should be continued even when PIM reforms are under full implementation, because they can tackle additional aspects of reforms requiring experimentation, especially for "second generation" issues, such as WUA federations, innovations in irrigation financing, charging and cost recovery, multi-functionality of WUAs, technology transfer through WUAs, asset management in transferred schemes, agency personnel changes, and development of private sector support services.
  9. Re-iterates the importance of building capacity, promoting collaborations and partnerships across stakeholders at various levels; and promoting the exchange of information, knowledge, best practices and lessons learned on PIM reforms.
  10. Calls upon national governments, local, regional and international donors, development banks and partners to take facilitating role in promoting PIM reforms, help mobilize financial and technical resources from public and private sources, and provide required assistance to relevant organizations involved in promoting and strengthening PIM reforms.
  11. Thanks the Government of I.R. of Iran, ICID, INPIM, IRNCID, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture for their contributions and support in organizing the event; and other partners (including WB, FAO, IWMI) for this support for the event.

 

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LAHORE DECLARATION
October 2008, Lahore, Pakistan

59th IEC, Lahore, Pakistan

The target of the First Millennium Development Goal (MDG 1) is reducing hunger by 50 % by 2015. Notwithstanding the progress made to some extent, realisation is still lagging behind considerably. It is disheartening to observe that there are indeed depleting levels of global food stock. This has caused food scarcity resulting in a steep increase in food prices during 2008. This has brought us back to the global agenda on water for agriculture and better agricultural water management, the primary mission of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).

The 20th ICID Congress in Lahore was rightly conducted on a theme quite relevant to the current needs of Food Security. The theme of Participatory Integrated Water Resources Management:' From Concept to Action' covered several sub themes. The participation of over 150 international delegates and 400 local delegates in Pakistan, which has the world's largest contiguous irrigation system could help a fair assessment of the opportunities and bottlenecks in the implementation of 'Water Management For Sustainable Agriculture Production ' and identifying the issues of importance.

In due consideration to the transactions in the Congress, deliberations in the ICID specialized working groups and recommendations of various stakeholders, the following key recommendations emerged:

(1) To achieve the required increase in Food Production in light of the rising demand, there is an urgent need to modernize and expand the irrigation and drainage systems and to improve their operation and maintenance in the broadest since as a tool to assume primary importance;

(2) The increase in worlds' population and an enhancing standard of living for the people world over ask for more production to meet the increasing demands. The looming climate change and its likely impacts on water management for agriculture requires cooperation of cutting across boundaries especially in regard to the Himalayan River Systems

  • Sharing knowledge and information, intensification of data collection networks, research and technology to adapt to the increased needs under the impacts of climate change;
  • A review of the operation of storage systems keeping in view the dynamics of climate change: need for enhancing storage dam based reservoir systems, enhancing soil water storage with water harvesting structures, check dams, recharging groundwater, farm dams and enhancing grain banks - virtual water storage;
  • Design and operation of irrigation systems using treated or partially treated water including waste water re-use;
  • Dealing with mineral tolerant plants, saline land crops and crops to withstand waterlogging.

For the countries served by the Himalayan rivers, it will be of special importance to improve in addition the knowledge on the processes in the snow clad regions.

(3) Experiences discussed in the congress reflect that participatory water management of schemes involves that the water users' contribute positively to sustainable operation and maintenance of systems. In the emerging countries the responsibility for operation and maintenance has been generally in hands of the Governments. In such cases the transfers concern the transfer of responsibility and ownership of full or parts of the systems gradually getting handed over to the farmers, and/or irrigation or drainage agencies. In the countries with a transition economy, problems of concern differ, such as the need for looking into the layout of the systems, which had hitherto been mostly based on the large-scale agricultural production. The transfer of irrigation system management from the traditional government agencies towards water management agencies and water users associations, the funding of modernization and resulting operation and maintenance, lack of good governance, unaffordable pumping systems and environmental degradation came up as emerging issues.

(4) Investment in the modernization of (large-scale) surface irrigation schemes will result in better service provisions. The partial transfer of such schemes for participatory irrigation management will help better governance, cost recovery in stages and efficient water use.

(5) Assets created in the recent past for enhancing water availability, particularly dam based reservoirs are facing the challenge of loss of live storage at a pace that is becoming critical: the high rate of sedimentation in Himalayan reservoirs and other river systems in China, Iran, Turkey call for a global initiative to study this aspect; cooperation of international organizations like International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), International Hydropower Association (IHA), International Association of Hydraulic Research (IAHR) besides ICID and Research Institutions who are doing works in this regard can pool the knowledge and share it to address the problems of handling this issue.

(6) In an exclusive session on Tarbela Reservoir sedimentation, the international delegates had an appreciation of the tremendous magnitude of the impending problem arising out of loss of storage; they reviewed available solutions but acknowledged that the Tarbela case as such is unique asking further research, innovative solutions applying frontier knowledge and beyond and exchange ideas. ICID shall in accordance with its By Laws, constitute a Task Force to study this aspect of reservoir sedimentation involving experts of the member countries and liaise with other international organizations like ICOLD, IHA, etc.

(7) The international participants expressed their high appreciation for the efforts of all involved in the host country to make their stay as good as possible under the present day conditions.

 

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ICID - DECLARACIÓN DE LAHORE
Octubre, 2008, Lahore Pakistán

59th IEC, Lahore, Pakistan

Una de las Metas de Desarrollo del Milenio (MDG 1) tiene por objetivo reducir el hambre, en un 50%, para el año 2015. Sin embargo los avances realizados para alcanzarlo han quedado, en cierto modo, considerablemente por debajo. Es descorazonador observar que, a pesar de todo, existen ámbitos en los que se reducen las reservas de alimentos globales. Esto ha ocasionado la escasez de alimentos que ha sido la causa del pronunciado aumento de precios en 2008, lo cual nos hace retroceder a la Agenda Mundial sobre el Agua para la Agricultura y para mejorar la gestión del agua de riego, que es la misión primaria de la Comisión Internacional de Riego y Drenaje (ICID).

El 20º Congreso de la ICID en Lahore ha estado dirigido, con gran acierto, a un asunto muy importante sobre las actuales necesidades de Seguridad Alimentaría. El tema de Gestión Participativa e Integrada de los Recursos de Agua: "Del Concepto a la Acción", abarcaba varios subtemas. La participación de más de 150 delegados internacionales y de 400 locales, en Pakistán, que posee el mayor sistema de riego contiguo del mundo, puede aconsejar acertadamente sobre las posibilidades y dificultades de la implementación de la "Gestión del Agua para una Producción Agrícola Sostenible", e identificar los aspectos de importancia.

De la debida consideración de las actas del Congreso, de las deliberaciones de los grupos especializados de la ICID y de las oportunas sugerencias de varios participantes, han salido las siguientes recomendaciones:

(1) Para lograr el necesario aumento de la Producción de Alimentos, a la vista de su creciente demanda, es preciso, urgentemente, modernizar y ampliar los sistemas de riego y drenaje, así como mejorar su funcionamiento y mantenimiento, en el más amplio sentido, por tratarse de un instrumento de primera importancia.

(2) El incremento de la población mundial y la elevación del nivel de vida en todo el mundo, exige mayores producciones para cubrir las crecientes demandas. El cambio climático que se cierne sobre nosotros y sus posibles impactos sobre la gestión del agua para la agricultura exige la cooperación para superar fronteras, especialmente en lo que respecta a los Sistemas de Ríos del Himalaya:

  • Compartiendo conocimientos e información, intensificando las redes de toma de datos y la investigación y la tecnología, para adaptarlas a las necesidades crecientes bajo los efectos del cambio climático.
  • Revisando el funcionamiento de los sistemas de almacenamiento de agua, teniendo presente las dinámicas del cambio del clima: necesidad de aumentar los sistemas de almacenamiento basados en presas, de incrementar el almacenamiento de agua en el suelo mediante obras para su recogida, del control de presas, de las recargas de acuíferos subterráneos, de balsas en las explotaciones y de aumentar los bancos de cereales - almacenamiento de agua virtual.
  • Diseñando y empleando en los sistemas de riego aguas tratadas o parcialmente tratadas e, incluso, reutilizando aguas residuales.
  • Trabajando con especies tolerantes a los minerales, con cultivos para suelos salinos o con cultivos resistentes a los encharcamientos.

(3) Las experiencias discutidas en el congreso reflejan que la gestión participativa del agua en los sistemas de riego supone que los usuarios del agua contribuyen positivamente al funcionamiento y conservación de los mismos. En los países emergentes la responsabilidad de la explotación y mantenimiento ha estado, por lo general, en manos de los Gobiernos. En estos casos las transferencias suponen la transferencia de responsabilidad y propiedad de todos los elementos del sistema, gradualmente entregados a los agricultores y/o a los organismos de riego o drenaje. A los países con economías en transición los problemas que les afectan son distintos, como es la necesidad de analizar el trazado del sistema, hasta ahora principalmente basado en la producción agraria en gran escala. Como asuntos emergentes aparecen: la transferencia de la gestión del sistema desde los tradicionales organismos gubernamentales a entidades de gestión del agua y asociaciones de usuarios, la financiación de la modernización y del subsiguiente funcionamiento, la falta de buena gobernación, los inasequibles equipos de bombeo y la degradación del medio ambiente.

(4) Las inversiones en la modernización de (grandes) sistemas de riego por gravedad darán como resultado una mejor prestación de servicios. La transferencia parcial de tales sistemas para la gestión participativa del riego ayudara a su mejor gobernanza, a la recuperación de costes por etapas y al uso más eficiente del agua.

(5) Los medios creados en el pasado reciente para aumentar la disponibilidad de agua, especialmente los embalses basados en presas, se enfrentan al reto de reducir su vida de almacenamiento, a un paso que está llegando a ser crítico. El elevado ritmo de sedimentación en los embalses del Himalaya y en otros sistemas fluviales de China, Irán, Turquía, necesita una iniciativa mundial para estudiar este asunto; se precisa la cooperación de organizaciones internacionales como la Comisión Internacional de Grandes Presas (ICOLD), la Asociación Internacional de Energía Hidráulica (IHA) y los Institutos de Investigación que están trabajando en este campo para que aúnen sus conocimientos y los compartan a fin de acometer los problemas de gestión de este tema.

(6) En una sesión exclusiva sobre la sedimentación en el Embalse de Tarbela, los delegados internacionales apreciaron la enorme magnitud del inminente problema que se deriva de la pérdida de almacenamiento; analizaron las soluciones disponibles pero reconocieron que el caso de Tarbela, como tal, es único, y pidieron que prosiga la investigación, la aportación de soluciones innovadoras que apliquen conocimientos de vanguardia y más allá, y el intercambio de ideas. De acuerdo con su Reglamento, la ICID debe constituir un Equipo de trabajo específico (Task Force) para el estudio de este aspecto de la sedimentación de los embalses, que implique a expertos de los países miembros, en colaboración con organizaciones internacionales, como ICOLD, IHA, etc.

(7) Los participantes internacionales agradecieron a todos los organizadores del país anfitrión sus esfuerzos para hacer su estancia lo mejor posible en las actuales condiciones.

 

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LVIV DECLARATION DECLARATION

23rd European Regional Conference, Lviv, Ukraine
'Progress in Managing Water for Food and Rural Development'
18-21 May 2009

The 23rd European Regional Conference (ERC) of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) was held during 18 - 21 May 2009 at Lviv, Ukraine. The theme of the ERC was 'Progress in Managing Water for Food and Rural Development'. The conference was organized by the Ukraine National Committee of ICID (UKCID) in cooperation with the ICID European Regional Working Group (ERWG). Professionals from Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Iran, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and ICID participated in the conference and discussed the various keynotes and papers.

The Conference placed high emphasis on the issues related to flood control, water demands, GIS technologies and application in the field of water management. The special theme was dedicated to the climate change in view of frequent floods and droughts observed in Europe. Special attention was given to the development of management plans for river basins.

The 23rd European Regional Conference concluded with following Declaration/ Recommendation :

  1. The conference papers highlighted the good 'on-going' development with respect to integrated management of water and land resources both with respect to policy related developments (stakeholder participation, actual implementation, modeling, data collection, storage) and their dissemination.
  2. More and more projects were being developed and implemented in an integrated way by taking into account social conditions with stakeholder participation. Possible impacts of climate change including technical, economical, gender, and environmental aspects are getting addressed. However, more need to be done to improve these aspects. This will be especially important during the operation 23rd European Regional Conference, Lviv, Ukraine 'Progress in Managing Water for Food and Rural Development' 18-21 May 2009 'Lviv Declaration' and maintenance phase of rural development projects. It is in this phase that the benefits of projects are really realized.
  3. Primarily due to human activities and to a certain extent due to the impacts of climate change, the effects and impacts of floods and droughts are significantly increasing in many places. Therefore, it is increasingly important that in the development of projects, both the present day conditions as well as the envisaged mid-term and long-term scenarios are taken into account in the decision-making process. In the light of this, the European Water Framework Directive and the European Flood Directive are important guiding documents that have to be implemented jointly.
  4. For improved coordination of the wide range of activities for rural development at different spatial levels, like integrated land and water management, river basin management, rural development and spatial planning, it is recommended to update legislation and organizational structures where relevant.
  5. There is an urgent need to strengthen international water legislation for protection of water rights for agriculture in order to support sustainable and integrated water management - irrigation and/or drainage, dependent on the local conditions - as a requirement to guarantee food security.

The conference recorded its appreciation to the activities of the Inter-state Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia in the framework of cooperation of the five states - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan - on transboundary waters under the conditions of climate change and felt that it could be an example for the trans-boundary cooperation in other river basins.

The conference also supported the development of a Russian speaking network of water management specialists that was initiated in the Moscow meeting of January 2009 and recommends that scientific organizations join the network.

Agreed actions

  • To increase food production significantly, through sustainable rural development in the forthcoming decades by realizing the potential of several of the European countries, like Ukraine, it was agreed (by several parties) that an initiative will be taken for a joint project on 'Integrated Water Management' for improving food production in European countries. The ICID European Working Group will take the initiative to prepare a proposal in cooperation with the potential partners.
  • To improve the network for European young professionals in the water management sector to be initiated jointly by UKCID and GECID. They will also promote joint activities like research projects, exchanges, summer schools, etc.
  • To review and further develop the activities of Work Team on Sustainable Irrigation Management (WT-SIM) in light of integrated rural development.

 

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DELHI DECLARATION
December 2009, New Delhi, India

60TH INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING AND 5TH ASIAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE

PREAMBLE

The Indian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (INCID) hosted the events before you on the theme "Improvement in efficiency of irrigation projects through technology upgradation and better operation and management". More than 700 professionals, experts, researchers, policy makers, managers, donors, development partners, and representatives from national, international organizations from 40 countries participated in the event.

Global food demand is expected to double over the next 25-30 years. An increase in irrigated area and consequent increase in water withdrawals for food production is therefore imperative. This conference is very much timely in view of the worldwide issue of soaring food prices impacted by global financial turmoil. Many national governments, particularly in emerging and least developed countries would have to put major efforts to achieve the required increase in food production. This global event provided an important platform for discussing issues, experiences, best practices, innovative ideas and challenges in agricultural water management specifically focusing on technological upgradation and improvement of water management in the Asian region. More than 190 technical papers were presented in the Conference covering wide range of technical, institutional, legal issues of irrigation development and management

The Conference was inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who highlighted the challenge of food demand, climate change, floods and drought requiring integrated approach into resource management to conserve water and ensure equitable distribution of resources, through citizen and State actions.

DELHI DECLARATION

  • Realizing the growing population, industrialization and urbanization;
  • Foreseeing the increased demand for precious water resources for various purposes particularly for agriculture;
  • Recognizing the enormous challenges and complexities associated with the water sector;
  • Considering the likely impact of Climate Change on agricultural land and water resources; and

In due consideration of the transactions and deliberations in various technical working groups, special sessions, and the Asian Regional Conference it was resolved that:

  • There is an urgent need for implementing various strategies and measures to boost agricultural production utilizing the available water and land resources with the highest efficiency possible in context to the social, economic and ecological factors. Since secured food production comes mostly from irrigated agriculture, especially in semi-arid and arid countries, it calls for a considerable improvement in the overall performance of the irrigation and drainage sector
  • About 70%, a major part of the world's irrigated area lies in the Asian region, as is its share of global population. Agricultural Water Management in Asian countries plays a crucial role not only in coping with food demand but also in alleviation of poverty, especially in rural areas. National Governments need to invigorate their focus in modernization / improvement of publicly operated irrigation and / or drainage schemes creating a synergy between agricultural and water policies with a view to securing food.
  • Recognizing the enormous challenges and complex issues facing the irrigation sector, increased investment both from public and private sources not only for expansion of irrigation area but also for modernizing existing infrastructure through the appropriate institutional arrangements are needed. Private sector is urged to come forward and discharge their social responsibility in water and food sector.
  • Farmers, as the principal stakeholders, should be consulted. Women play a big role in food production. Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) with well introduced reforms can enhance irrigation performance. National and regional governments and donor agencies are urged to support PIM, and encourage reforms by mobilizing financial and technical sources. There is a need to make Water User Associations (WUAs) economically sound and legally empowered.
  • Enhanced support is needed for research and development, capacity building, improved extension services in the dissemination of technology/information/ knowledge among all stakeholders, especially farmers. Promote best agricultural technologies and their dissemination to reach up to the level of the farmers.
  • Taking into consideration the likely impacts of climate change on the availability of water resources and crop yields, national governments and related organizations are called upon to develop work plans for adoption/mitigation measures and encourage their implementation.
  • An integrated approach of agricultural drainage by developing and adopting modern technologies and tools suited to local conditions for the reclamation of waterlogged and saline areas is required right from planning / implementation stage.
  • The public private partnership in development and management of water resources for irrigation with the involvement of local stakeholders to ensure efficient management of the scarce water resources is to be given immediate attention.
  • Encouraging an increase in investment in water resources sector, particularly in irrigation, from both private and public sources will create a proper envision for a thrust in action oriented programme.

 

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