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Message from the President

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage(ICID) was established in 1950 as a scientific, technicaland voluntary not-for-profit non-governmentalinternational organization. The ICID News is publishedquarterly by ICID Central Office, New Delhi, India.

IN THIS ISSUE• Report from Tehran Congress 2-3

• New Office Bearers /Award Winners 4

• Key Recommendations of the 521st Congress and 8th IMIC

• SonTek – Believe in infinite possibility 6

• Conserving Rainwater for EnhancingCrop Productivity 7

• Tehran Declaration 8

Managing Water for Sustainable Agriculture

2011/42011/4

Also available at http://www.icid.org

Dear Friends and members of ICID family,

I am very pleased to write this firstmessage as the new President of ICID.It is indeed an honour to serve as yourPresident. First of all, I would like tothank you and all National Committeesfor electing me as the President of ICID.ICID is the organization that I like tocontribute to and devote whole heartedly.I wish to assure you that I will do mybest to uphold the Office of the Presidentand to work closely with all NationalCommittees and members of variousworkbodies in order to fulfill our mission.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of theentire ICID family I would like to expressheartiest thanks once again to IranianNational Committee and Local OrganizingCommittee for their exceptional work andefforts in hosting the 21st Congress, the62nd IEC meeting and the 8th InternationalMicro Irrigation Congress very success-fully. My special thanks must go toProf. Chandra Madramootoo, PresidentHon., Er. M. Gopalakrishnan, SecretaryGeneral, Vice Presidents Hon. Dr. (Mrs.)Samia El-Guindy, Dr. Shinsuke Ota, andProf. Lucio Ubertini for their valuablecontributions to ICID.

During the past 62 years, ICID hasdedicated to enhance the worldwidesupply of food and fiber for all people byimproving water and land management andthe productivity of irrigated and drainedlands through appropriate management ofwater, environment and application ofirrigation, drainage and flood managementtechniques. ICID has made remarkablecontribution to the sustainable developmentof irrigated agriculture, global food supplyand poverty alleviation. However, withgrowing population, water scarcity, impactof climate change, and expansion of

biofuel crop area, global food securityscenario is becoming more and moreserious and complex. In 2010, the numberof undernourished population was 925million. There are enormous challenges toachieve the MDG for food security.

Given these huge challenges, ICID willcontinue to promote the sustainabledevelopment of irrigation and drainage toincrease irrigation water use efficiency andwater and land productivity. Current globalirrigated area is only 19% of the totalfarmland of the world and about 55% ofthe food production comes from irrigated/drained land. Irrigation has played and willcontinue to play an important role inincreasing global cereal production. Tocope with climate change and waterscarcity threats, we need to modernizeour existing irrigation and drainageinfrastructure. Some countries have alreadyenhanced their investment in irrigationsector. Thus, the good news is that thereare opportunities to extend new andimproved techniques and managementmeasures for increasing water useefficiency and productivity.

There is an urgent need to strengthen thecapacity building in irrigation and drainagesector, especially in the developingcountries. Exchange of experiences,knowledge and information among ICIDfraternity will make a difference for thedeveloping countries to increase their wateruse efficiency and productivity, and helpaddress their food and water securityconcerns. The world needs a strong ICID,which is based on the strength of ourNational Committees and variousworkbodies with the active involvementof irrigation and drainage professionals,especially young professionals. We need towork actively to strengthen the cooperationamong ICID National Committees and

further reinforce the collaboration with therelated international organizations.

The 3rd African Regional Conferencewill be held in Bamako, Mali, from 29November to 5 December. I am gladto tell you that about 200 participantsincluding the representatives from FAO,the World Bank and other internationalorganizations will attend this importantICID event. I will attend this conferenceand hope that this event will help theAfrican region in promoting irrigationdevelopment and contribute towardsaddressing the water and food securityin the region. I am aware that somedeveloping countries, especially the leastdeveloped countries (LDCs) have financialproblems to attend ICID events. In thisregard, we have to seek ways to helpthem. I am pleased to inform you thatCNCID will support 6 delegates fromAfrican countries to attend the 3rd AfricanRegional Conference.

In our member countries, there are manyremarkable and historic irrigation, drainageand flood control projects. These projects

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are not only the facilities and structuresfor better water management, but also arethe great cultural heritage. I am alwaysencouraged and moved by the wondersof these projects and we can draw spiritsfrom them towards sustainable develop-ment of irrigation, drainage and floodcontrol schemes.

No doubt, we are facing many challenges,but we also have many opportunities. It isthe spirit of ICID family to unite and worktogether and to help each other to realize

our goals. I am ready to work closely withall members of ICID family to fulfill themission of ICID. Currently under theleadership of President Hon. Prof. BartSchultz, we are actively involved in thepreparations of the Thematic Priority 2.2‘‘Contribute to food security by optimaluse of water’’ of the 6th World WaterForum. The Australian National Committeeis fully geared up in preparation of the63rd IEC meeting and 7th Asian RegionalConference, which are only 7 monthsaway. Let us work together to achieve

more and contribute more to thesustainable development of irrigatedagriculture, which eventually contributeto global food security and povertyalleviation.

Best regards to all.

Yours truly,

Dr. Gao Zhanyi, President, ICID

Report from Tehran CongressMore than 1200 professionals, scientists, irrigation managers, policy makers, consultants, and students from 55 countries andinternational organizations gathered in Tehran from 15 to 23 October 2011 to participate in ICID’s 21stInternational Congress onIrrigation & Drainage, the 8thInternational Micro-irrigation Congress, and the 62nd meeting of the International Executive Council.

H.E. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President, I.R. of Iran (inset) addressing delegates at the Opening Ceremony of the 21st Congress

The 21st ICID Congress was openedby H.E. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

President, I.R. of Iran. The event wasgraced by the presence of high profileguests and dignitaries - H.E. Pawan KumarBansal, Minister of Water Resources fromIndia; H.E. Khalialian, Minister of Jihad-e-Agriculture, H.E. Namjoo, Ministry ofEnergy, I.R. of Iran; H.E. Dr. ShavkatKhamraev, Deputy Minister of Water andAgriculture, Uzbekistan; H.E. Li Guoying,Vice Minister, Ministry of WaterResources, China; H.E. Eng. C.K.Chiza,Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Republicof Tanzania, Pres. Chandra Madramootoo,Presidents Hon. Aly Shady, Prof. BartSchultz, Peter Lee and serving VicePresidents and Vice Presidents Hon., andSenior Officers from the FAO, ADB,and WWC.

The event was hosted by the IranianNational Committee (IRNCID) with theleadership of H.E. M.R. Attarzadeh,Deputy Minister of Energy for Water andWastewater Affairs, and Chairman,IRNCID and Dr. S.A. Assadollahi,Secretary General, supported by severalMinistries and National Organizations(Private and Government) from Iran. Allthe events were held at the magnificentIRIB International Conference Center(IICC), Tehran.

The theme of the Congress was “WaterProductivity towards Food Security”.More than 200 papers were presentedduring the Congress. Besides theCongress, meetings of 30 ICIDworkbodies, workshops and a largetechnical exhibition were held.The other side events held were

FAO side event on Investment in NorthAfrica; Australian Special Session; FAO-ICID Special Session, Special Session on6th World Water Forum, and the YoungProfessionals meeting. During the OpeningSession, three publications (a) TowardsSustainable Development of Tidal Areas:Some Principles and Experiences (Preparedby WG-SDTA); (b) Half a Century withIRNCID; and (c) History of Waterin Ancient Iran, prepared by IRNCIDwere released.

Post-congress technical tours toMazandaran Province on the north,and Khuzestan on the south of Iranwere organized.

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Challenges of Food and Water SecurityPresident Prof. Chandra Madramootoo in his opening remarks at the 62nd Council meeting highlighted the current key drivers as -the continuing food crisis and volatile food prices, climate variability - floods and droughts, competition from other water users,population growth, Lack of water storage capacity, growing demands for energy and alternative fuels, changing dietary patterns,weak institutional capacity, lack of investments in agriculture and water, weakened applied research and technology transfercapabilities, and environmental and water quality degradation. The following are excerpts from his speech.

The Irrigation Sector Shift from Construction to Modernization:What is required for Success?

On 19 October, the 8th N.D. Gulhati Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Charles M. Burt, Chairman, Irrigation Trainingand Research Center (ITRC) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) San Luis Obispo, USA. He stressed the need forimprovement of irrigation performance through modernization of irrigation schemes while caring for the environment. Dr. Burt,with his vast experience spanning over 33 years in irrigation project modernization, elucidated common pitfalls to avoid by citingpractical experience in the western USA. The following are excerpts from his lecture.

Decades of international irrigationmodernization development have

clarified certain requirements for success, aswell as illuminated indicators of projectfailure. Of particular importance are requiredshifts within the state and national irrigationbureaucracies, as well as universities. Theirrigation sector faces numerous challenges,

but most importantly: the irrigation sectormust do more with less (i.e., crop productionmust increase per unit of water and energyconsumed), and the environment must beprotected.

In the past, irrigation projects have tradi-tionally operated as autonomous entities thatare answerable only to their own bureau-cracies and regulations. However, continuallyincreasing external pressures on irrigationprojects to improve performance no longerallow this to hold true. The main factors thatimpact not only irrigation agencies, but theenvironment, governmental policies, and thepublic in general are declining groundwaterlevels, increasing and more affluent popu-lations, environmental restrictions forconstruction of new dams, and climatechange impacts on usable water supply.

Strong irrigation departments in mostcountries were built with a focus on theconstruction of dams and large canals.Irrigation departments need to recognize thatthe days of construction of new dams and

canals have diminished and should havea vision of re-organizing to meet today’scomplex irrigation demands. “ICID can playan important role in effectively promotingthis new approach,” suggested Prof. Burt.

Dr. Burt said that the shift to modernizationmust be addressed in a successful programthat will provide excellent service to farmerswhile strengthening the environment. Suchprograms require a dedicated cadre oftechnical specialists with extensive experiencein successful modernization. Developing thatcadre takes many years, serious funding, andpragmatic training – an effort that is as largeas, and more important than, building severallarge dams. Modernization is expensive, andmust be approached slowly with excellentattention to detail. The good news is thatthere is tremendous potential, throughmodernization, to improve the environmentand increase the “crop per drop” of waterand energy consumed, concluded Prof. Burt.

The full text of the lecture can be accessed at<http://www.icid.org/nd_gulhati_2011.pdf>

“The challenge of doubling the foodproduction over the next 25 years to

meet the food requirements of world's risingpopulation has to be met with the reductionin cropped area in many countries and the

rising demand for water from industrialand domestic sectors at the expenses ofagriculture” said President Madramootoo.In the Province of Alberta, Canada, forexample, the competition for water fromother sectors of the economy has beengrowing significantly. Adopting the packageof improved technology in water application,seeds, fertilizers, and farm machinery,farmers in Alberta could dramaticallydecrease the irrigation water applicationfrom about 900 mm per annum in mid1950s to only 380 mm today. At the sametime barely yields have actually increasedover the same period from about 2.5 tonnesper hectare in mid 1950s to about 6.5tonnes per hectare today. Farmers ofSouthern Alberta have come to realizethat they can remain comparative in aninternational market and sell their produceacross the world. "We therefore need tocontinue investment in irrigation

infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenanceand also in research and development,technology transfer, and in capacitydevelopment/ building," said the President.

Groundwater irrigation has many benefits interms of its availability on demand and notbeen constrained by institutional systems andsupply variability. In countries like India andChina, tube well irrigation has expandedrapidly, while canal irrigation remained verymodest. Groundwater irrigated areas in Indiais about 39 million ha, in China 19 millionha, and in the USA it is 17 million ha andthe area is increasing. Pres. Madramootoosaid that we must be concerned inprotecting our aquifers to avoid depletionof groundwater resources. ICID needs to payattention to this subject and that there is aneed to develop a better framework ofgroundwater management and its protection.

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ICID Elects New Office BearersAt the 62nd Council meeting held in Tehran, ICID elected a new President and threenew Vice Presidents and also ratified the appointment of the new Secretary General.

Prof. Dr. Gao Zhanyi (China) was elected asthe 22nd President of ICID for three years term(2011-2014). He took over from Dr. ChandraMadramootoo whose Presidential term ended

after the Tehran Council meeting. Dr. Zhanyi isthe Director, National Centre for Efficient

Irrigation Technology Research. He has alsoserved as the Vice President of ICID (2005-

2008). He is the youngest ICID President so far.

(From Right) Prof. Tai Cheol, Kim (South Korea)is the Professor in Irrigation, Drainage and RuralEngineering in Chungnam National University;Mr. Adama Sangare (Mali) is the President of

the Mali National Committee (AMID) andCo-Director of the BETICO; and Dr. GerhardBackeberg (South Africa) is the Director ofWater Utilization in Agriculture at Water

Research Commission.

Secretary General M. Gopalakrishnan willbe retiring at the end of December 2011

after serving ICID for 8 years. He washonoured by presenting a plaque by

President Chandra Madramootoo

The 62nd IEC ratified the selection andappointment of Mr. Avinash C. Tyagi asthe Secretary General with effect from

1 January 2012. Mr. Tyagi presently is theDirector at the World Meteorological

Organization (WMO), Geneva

South African National Committee onIrrigation and Drainage (SANCID) has wonthe 4th Best Performing National CommitteeAward for its outstanding achievements andcontributions to ICID activities. The Trophy

was received by VPH Felix Reinders,Chairman, SANCID

Prof. Dr. SubhashTaley (India) has wonthe WatSave InnovativeWater ManagementAward 2011 for hiswork on “ParticipatoryRainwater Conservation

of Rainfed Agriculture of Vidarbha Region(Maharashtra), India”. Please see page 7.

Messrs. Pieter S vanHeerden andCharles T Crosby(South Africa) havewon the theWatSave Techno-logy Award 2011

for their work on “SAPWAT 3: IrrigationWater Planning Tool”.

Mr. Jerry Erstrom (USA) haswon the WatSave FarmerAward 2011 for his work on“The Willow Creek PipingProject”.

The award winning water saving/ conser-vation contributions can be accessed:at<http://www.icid.org/awards.html#watsave>

The Best Paper Award 2011 was presented toMessrs Yanbo Huang, Guy Fipps, Stephan J.Maas, and Reginald S. Fletcher (USA) to the

paper titled “Airborne Remote Sensing forDetection of Irrigation Canal Leakage”

published in Volume 59, No. 5,December, 2010. The award was

received by VPH Larry D. Stephens,Executive Vice President, USCID

The 3rd BPWA was presented to theICID Working Group on Sustainable

Development of Tidal Areas (WG-SDTA).Dr. Park Sang Hyun (Korea), Chairman,

WG-SDTA received the award

Best Performing NationalCommittee/ Workbody and Best

Paper Awards

Winners of WatSave Awards 2011

President Vice Presidents

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Key Recommendations of the 21st Congress on Irrigation andDrainage and 8th Micro Irrigation Congress

Question 57: “Water Managementin Rainfed Agriculture”

Prepared by Dr. Theibe Oweis (ICARDA,Syria), General Reporter and presented byDr. N. Heydari (Iran)

• Policies need to be developed toencourage the use of water efficient andproductive practices such as supplementalirrigation, water harvesting and otherrainfed farming inputs and tools.Supplemental irrigation for early sowingand for alleviating soil moisture stressduring dry spells in the crops growingseasons is very effective in improvingrainfed agriculture. Deficit supplementalirrigation can maximize water

productivity especially in water scaresareas.

• Water harvesting through both micro-catchments (soil water storage) andmacro-catchments (surface and groundwater storage) are instrumental forclimate change adaptation in reducingrunoff, erosion and floods in addition toincreasing water availability to farmersand crops.

• Improved crop varieties and othercultural practices should be supportive toimproved yields and water productivity.

• Institutions should be developed inrainfed areas and existing ones should bestrengthened and empowered. Especially

the role of women and youth need to begiven special attention.

• Increased support to research to fillknowledge gaps on water managementand associated aspects, especially on theimpacts of climate change on rainfedagriculture and its adaptation. Besides theresearch, capacity building is important todisseminate and apply improved practicesand technologies.

• Access to markets was identified as themost important and work on developingmarkets in remote areas and improvingaccess to markets in rainfed areas needutmost attention.

Question 56: “Water and LandProductivity Challenges”Prepared and presented by VPH Dr. SaeedNairizi (Iran), General Reporter

• Irrigation efficiencies should be studiedand recommended for planning anddecision making based on basin waterbalance rather than measurement at thefarm level.

• Irrigation water productivity (IWP) is apromising tool to evaluate the effective-

ness of water allocated to agriculturefrom economic and environmentalconsideration, particularly within thewater stressed region. The definition ofIWP should be framed based upon thedifferent objectives, and scales.

• Evaporation from the field is an actualwater loss within the irrigation schemes,which is not recoverable. So attemptsshould be directed to the technology andmanagement of irrigation planning andoperation to minimize such water losses.

• The concept of crop water requirementneeds to be reconsidered with the aimto focus on the actual water consumedby crops. Irrigation technology shouldbe deployed to minimize the real waterlosses.

• In order to achieve high waterproductivity, other important factors likeproper agro-technology, improving thesoil condition, better seeds, appropriatefertilizer application, and above all thebetter farm management should be givendue attention.

8th International Micro IrrigationCongress

Prepared and presented by VPH FelixReinders (South Africa), Chairman WG-On-Farm

• Recognizing the priority of trainingfarmers to adopt pressurized and micro-irrigation systems in countries with lowliteracy level of the farmers.

• There is an urgent need for extendingand applying the results of the

agricultural promoter’s researches toimprove designs and to increase micro-irrigation systems efficiency.

• Farmers should be educated whileshifting from conventional surfaceirrigation to drip irrigation, especiallyin case of trees/ orchards to avoid anyadverse impact on their growth.

• Realizing that sub-surface drip irrigationis more effective than the other dripirrigation systems in decreasingevaporation losses and deep percolationespecially in arid regions and light soils.

• Recognizing that increase in waterproductivity based on crop per drop,it is recommended that climate changefactors and droughts be seriouslyconsidered, and local knowledge andmodern technological information arerequired to increase water use efficiency.

(The Central Office, ICID has brought outCongress proceedings (printed volume) with‘Abstracts’ and a ‘CD-ROM’ containing allfull length papers of 21st Congress and8th IMIC, both in English and French)

IRNCID launched “International ResearchProgram for Irrigation and Drainage(IRPID)”, the Nodal Centre for CentralAsia and Middle East in Tehran on16 October 2011 in the hands of ICIDSecretary General M. Gopalakrishnan.

On this occasion, MoUs were signed withNational Committees of Egypt, Indonesia,Tanzania, Mali, Ukraine, and Uzbekistanto create a new ‘Knowledge Base’ andexchanges by cooperative efforts.Dr. Mohammad Javad Monem is thefirst Programme Manager of the newICID-IRPID Centre in Tehran.

Dr. Monem may be contacted at:<monem@net.modares.ac.ir>

ICID-IGS MoU signedA MoU was signed between ICID andthe International Geosynthetics Society(IGS) during the Council meeting atTehran. The MoU was signed byPresident Chandra Madramootoo onbehalf of ICID, and Eng. Eric Blond,Council member on behalf of IGS.

Launch ofIRAN-IRPID

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Enhancing Crop Productivity in Rainfed Agriculturethrough Rainwater Conservation

Rainfed farming (aka dry land agriculture) is practiced on some 80% of the world’s cultivated land, contributing more than 50% ofglobal food production. The productivity of rainfall in most regions of the world is relatively low and there is a considerable scopeto improve through rainfall management and agro technological interventions. In Vidharbh region of Maharashtra State of India,some 93% (5 million ha) of the cultivated land is dependent on rainwater for crop production. Due to variable and uncertainrainfall in monsoon season, crop yields are quite low and unstable. Dr. Subhash Taley, Professor of Agri. Engineering and DirectorAgro-ecology & Environment Centre at Dr. P.D. Agriculture University, Akola has been promoting since 2007 various low costinnovative agronomic and engineering techniques of in-situ soil and rain water conservation and harvesting through farm ponds ina participatory approach. Prof. Taley received ICID Watsave Management Award 2011 for his innovative water conservation andsaving contribution. A brief:

In the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra,approximately 93% of its cultivated area

is rainfed, and crop production is signifi-cantly influenced by the monsoon. Rainfedagriculture supports about 65% of therural population and is also the majorproducer of cereals, pulses and oilseeds.in order to enhance the crop productivityand reduce the instability of crop yieldsunder uncertain rainfall situations, farmerswere motivated through participatoryapproach to adopt packages of in-siturainwater conservation measures toenhance soil moisture in-situ and alsocapture runoff in farm ponds for “lifesaving” irrigations during dry spells. Hehas worked with about 9500 farmers from115 villages conserving an estimated 227million cubic meters of water on 21,000ha in 2009-10, plus 50,000 cubic meterswere made available for protectiveirrigation by promoting the constructionof 15,000 farm ponds, leading to asignificant increase in crop yields.

In-situ rainwater conservationVarious rainwater conservation measuresadopted by farmers of Vidharba regionincluded modified land configurations likedeep cultivation, contour and across theslope cultivation, intercropping, openingof furrow in alternate crop rows and tiedfurrows (intermittently broken) etc. Thestudy indicated that in deep cultivation thewater use efficiency (kg/ha-mm) achievedwas between 1.24 - 1.49 for the sole cropof soybean and 0.98 - 1.09 in case ofcotton. Compared to shallow/ conventionalcultivation, the crop yields in deep cultiva-tion were found to be higher by 11% to37%, runoff decreased by 8% to 13%,and the soil loss reduced by 17% to 31%.The opening of tide furrows in cotton,soybean, black gram, green gram andsorghum enhanced the yield levels by4% to 14% and water use efficiency from1.18 to 2.82 kg/ha-mm than the conven-tional field layout. In case of across theslope cultivation higher crop yields up to50% and water use efficiency of 0.55 -2.67 kg/ha-mm were achieved. Similarly in

contour cultivation the crop yields werehigher by 39% to 88% and the water useefficiency of 0.55 - 2.67 kg/ha-mm wasachieved. Similarly trends of higher cropproductivity and water use efficiency wereobserved in case of opening of alternatefurrows in across the slope and in contourcultivation.

Square basins (20 m x 20 m) preparedprior to commencement of rains enhancedthe yield of chickpea by 67% andrainwater use efficiency in the range of0.89 to 1.48 kg/ha-mm over the controltrial. Green manuring of the basins duringkharif (rainy) season enhanced the soilmoisture content from 43% to 64%, yieldof chickpea by 38% and rainwater useefficiency from 0.89 to 1.22 kg/ha-mmover the control treatment.

Farm pond storagesRunoff harvested from the cultivated fieldsinto farm ponds was used to provideprotective irrigation during prolonged spellof rainfall in kharif and moisture stress inrabi (winter) seasons. A protective irrigationthrough a drip system enhanced the yieldof pigeon pea by 67% and water useefficiency between 0.89 to 1.38 kg/ha-mm.Two protective irrigations through dripsystem to cotton enhanced the yield levelby 51% and water use efficiency between1.61 to 2.13 kg/ha-mm. One protectiveirrigation to soybean through sprinklersystem using farm pond storage enhancedthe yield by 24% and water use efficiencyfrom 2.15 to 3.48 kg/ha-mm over thecontrolled field treatment.

Field experiences of last three years haveshown that the adoption of the modifiedland configurations like deep cultivation,across the slope/ contour cultivation, andopening of furrows and tied furrows, green-manuring, square basin lay out, etc., canenhance rainfall storage in the soil profileand made available to crops in terms ofenhanced soil moisture, crop yields andwater use efficiency and reduction inrunoff, soil and nutrient losses. Farm pondsprovide life saving irrigation to crops

Tied (intermittently broken) furrows in cotton

Soybean+Pigeonpea cultivated on contourlayout with opening of alternate furrows

Green manuring in basins

Sprinklers irrigation using farm pond water

during prolonged dry spells. For effectiveand successful implementation of theseconservation measures, strong commitmentof the Government agencies and fullparticipation of farmers is necessary.

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Editor: Dr. S.A. Kulkarni, Executive Secretary, DTP: K.D. Tanwar, ICID Central Office, New Delhi, IndiaTel: +91-11-2611 6837/5679, E-mail : icid@icid.org

While the Congress was focused onconsidering the theme on “Waterproductivity towards food security,” theMicro-irrigation Congress deliberated onissues related to “Innovations in Technologyand Management of Micro-irrigation forthe enhanced productivity.” As a resultof intense deliberations following thepresentations, the followingrecommendations emerged:

1. Throughout the world the increasingsigns of water stress, accentuated by theclimate change are too imminent. Thechanges in the pattern of precipitationand temperatures impacts agriculturalsector severely, particularly the rainfed.Increasing physical water productivityreduces the need for additional waterrequired in irrigated lands to meet theincreasing demand for doubling foodproduction, meeting other waterrequirements, while at the same timeproviding sufficient water for thesustainability of ecosystems.

2. As water becomes a more limitingresource than land and other resourcesit is logical to focus on “maximizingwater productivity.” Creating an enablingenvironment allows the adoption ofimproved water management and otherrainfed agriculture technologies to achievethis productivity increase. Where needed,the national policies can be changedinvolving all stakeholders to encouragemaximizing water productivity by valuingwater. A financial policy which reallo-cates to water use efficient practices andoptions can yield the desired results.

3. Rainfed agriculture is very important toenhance food security and ecosystemssustainability. However, the rainfedproduces much below the potentialachievable. Returns on investment inrainfed systems is high and henceessential in many areas where with ofsupplemental irrigation, water harvestingand soil and water conservation inaddition to facilitating access to necessaryinputs, better results are achievable.

4. Impacts of climate change and droughtson rainfed production require moreemphasis and consideration. It is impor-tant to increase support to research andcapacity building in rainfed agriculture.Especially for understanding the impactsof climate change and adaptation

measures in addition to optimizing watermanagement.

5. Cost of desalination of water foragriculture use is prohibitively high.Therefore water productivity effortsshould focus on:

(i) decreasing water losses in differentphases of supply, distribution andconsumption;

(ii) improving irrigation methods,optimizing farming, garden andgreen area patterns; and

(iii) reuse of wastewater for agriculturaland city green areas.

6. Irrigation Water Productivity (IWP) isa promising tool to evaluate theeffectiveness of water allocated toagriculture from econo-mical andenvironment consideration particularlywithin water stressed regions. Localknowledge and modern techno-logicalinformation are required to increasewater user efficiency.

7. It is important to realize that irrigationhas only a part role in the cropproduction process. In order to havehigh water productivity there are otherimportant key players in this processwhich should be aligned with irrigationtechnology and management. Theexamples are, proper agro technology,improving the soil condition, betterseeds, appropriate fertilization, andabove all the importance of farmmanagement is to be emphasized.

8. Evaporation from the field is an actualwater loss within irrigation schemes,which is not recoverable. So attempts

should be directed to the technology andmanagement of irrigation planning andoperation to minimize such water losses.

9. Supplemental irrigation is the keystrategy, so far underutilized on aregional basis to unlock the yieldpotential under rainfed water scarcityconditions. Realizing that sub-surfacedrip irrigation is more effective thanconventional drip irrigation systemsin decreasing water evaporation anddeep percolation especially in warmregions and light soils.

10. The concept of crop water requirementneeds to be reconsidered with the aim tofocus on the actual water consumed bycrops. Irrigation technology should bedirected to the systems which minimizelosses and hence moving towards morewater productivity.

11. Water management practices and techno-logies with high irrigation efficienciesshould be studied and recommended forplanning and decision making, based onbasin water balance rather thanmeasurement at the farm level.

12. There is an urgent need to improvedesigns and to increase micro-irrigationsystems efficiency by incorporating latestresearch findings. Recognizing the priorityof training illiterate farmers to applypressurized and micro-irrigation systemsin countries with low literacy level ofthe farmers.

13. Recognizing that increase in waterproductivity based on crop for dropneeds to be given prime importance inthe 21st century.

Tehran DeclarationThe 21st ICID Congress, the 8th International Micro-irrigation Congress and the 62nd IEC meeting of ICID were held between15-23 October 2011 in Tehran, Iran. More than 1200 delegates from 55 countries attended. More than 200 papers were presented.Representatives from FAO, ADB joined the IEC events, given the importance of topics of the Congresses, and other sidelinejoint meetings on Investment in Agricultural Water Sector.

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