News Update January 2019 a Water Secure World Free of Poverty and Hunger Through Sustainable Rural Development
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|| International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage || International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage News Update January 2019 A Water Secure World Free of Poverty and Hunger through Sustainable Rural Development From Secretary General’s Desk... various technology products and services of micro-irrigation equipment and supplies; for micro-irrigation. ICID President Felix develops tissue culture; promotes contract Reinders, Vice President Marco Arcieri and farming and builds capacity in farming and Dear Colleagues, Vice President (Hon.) Mohamed Wahba extension communities. The most captivating participated in the conference and delivered observation was the tenacious and dedicated The ICID team has keynote presentations and speeches. At the research team at JISL entirely subsumed just returned from venue a farmers ‘fair was also organized in developing world-class micro-irrigation the week-long 9th where one could buy food and fibre products products. The delegates were more than International Micro- in attractive packaging mostly made by village satisfied with their study tour activities and Irrigation Conference women from various parts of India. The fair observations. (9IMIC) recently was a popular hub among the participants held in Aurangabad, and so was the ICID booth that distributed I also had an esteemed opportunity to interact India and hence the promotional materials as well as explained with H.E. Sikapale Henry Chinzewe, Deputy delay in the release of this issue. However, I the working of ICID network to the visitors. High Commissioner, High Commission of the am pleased to share with you all my positive Republic of Zambia at our ICID Central office experiences and informative coverage to make Just prior to the 9IMIC, ICID conducted a and briefed him about the ICID network, its up for the delay. The mega event witnessed study tour on solar-powered irrigation systems activities and support to various National over 700 participants, including more than for delegates from Egypt and Tunisia. The Committees in African region and around 100 international professionals, around 200 study tour was sponsored by FAO regional the world. farmers from India and a few from abroad, office in Africa with complete technical and and rest from a variety of scientific and logistic support from ICID. The delegates With this I close my note and wish you all a engineering disciplines; all gathered under one were taken to several projects depicting happy and blissful start to New Year 2019...!! roof to share their views and innovative ideas solar powered canal irrigation systems Best Wishes, for large scale adoption of micro-irrigation where they interacted with local officials and technology to improve productivity in the beneficiary farmers in several states of India. agriculture sector. The study tour concluded with a 2-day visit to the sprawling facilities and research & We all were in a visual treat to see such an development center of Jain Irrigation Systems enthusiastic response from the farmers and Limited (JISL), an India based multi-national Ashwin B. Pandya irrigation engineers during the exhibition of company that manufactures the entire range Secretary General Canadian PM Trudeau, VPH Tollefson discuss water issues: Challenges, solutions and conservation The Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) in collaboration with the Canadian National Committee (CANCID) successfully organized the International Conference and 69th IEC Meeting from 12-17 August 2018 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The theme of the conference emphasized the crucial role of sustainable water use as ‘a priority’ to build a more productive and resilient agricultural sector. As a follow-up to the 69th IEC Meetings, Vice President Hon. Laurie Tollefson met and interacted with Canadian Prime Minister Hon’ble Justin Trudeau and Hon'ble Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to discuss current plays in the life and economy of Canada, Hon'ble Minister Goodale noted the importance and future water challenges. VPH Tollefson sustainable water management is vital to the of the agri-food sector to deliver safe, high- shared that the international conference future of our footprint, while increasing yields. quality food to a growing world population with showcased some of Canada’s strategies He remarked that the country has adopted effective water management. The need of the related to effective water management with many leading edge technologies to manage hour is to yield new solutions for climate-smart the understanding of climate change and its and distribute its limited water resources and agriculture that will help the world’s farmers impacts on water security and environment. to further realize that potential in the face of meet the challenge of feeding a growing frequent severe floods and droughts caused population sustainably. Hon’ble Prime Minister Trudeau opined that by climate change, better water management given the important role that agriculture is essential. 1 News Update January | 2019 || International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage || 9th International Micro Irrigation Conference held in Aurangabad, India 16-18 January 2019 The 9th International Micro Irrigation and Environment, Government of Fiji) Aurangabad; President Reinders and Mr. Conference was organized by the graced the occasion as a Special Girraj Goyal, Director, MoWR, RD&GR. Ministry of Water Resources, River Invitee. Mr. U.P. Singh, Secretary, President Reinders made a presentation Development and Ganga Rejuvenation MoWR, RD&GR, Govt. of India); Mr. S. on Micro Irrigation and introduced different (MoWR, RD&GR), Government of Masood Hussain, Chairman, (INCSW, practices and technologies used in India in association with ICID, Indian Central Water Commission); Er. Felix B. various countries. On special request National Committee on Surface Water Reinders, President and Er. A.B. Pandya, from the farmers, the presentation was (INCSW) and WAPCOS Limited from Secretary General from ICID were also interpreted in Hindi and was very well 16-18 January 2019 in Aurangabad, present during the conference. received. At the end of the first session, Maharashtra, India. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gadkari President Reinders, Vice President Dr. ‘Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture,’ stated that micro irrigation is a game Marco Arcieri and other invited guests the theme of the conference aimed to changer in agricultural development. He also planted saplings in the WALMI share experiences in the use of new termed the replacement of the Canal complex. technologies and best management system by pipe system as a revolutionary The event initiated a multi-disciplinary practices in drip, micro-sprinkler and move and emphasized that the Central dialogue for discussions and deliberation other localized irrigation systems with government is taking several new through seminars, exhibitions and sub-themes focusing on (i) Design, initiatives for water conservation. Mr. sessions and raised awareness regarding Innovations, and New Techniques for Gadkari said it is time to think of change large-scale use of micro-irrigation increased Crop Productivity; (ii) Micro- in crop pattern considering the availability including new techniques in micro- irrigation funding and Government of water and further emphasized on new irrigation for increased crop productivity, support; (iii) Micro Irrigation for ‘Cluster technology, new innovation and new micro-irrigation in cluster level farming Level Farming and Small farm holders’; research for agricultural sector which will and canal irrigation systems. and (iv) Operation and Maintenance help in increasing productivity. Services and Capacity Development for Irrigation minister’s roundtable, farmer’s the Micro-Irrigation Systems. Event Highlights pavilion and NGO sessions, handcrafts mela, workshops on specific crops Union Minister of Road Transport The three-day conference witnessed and specific agro-climatic zones were and Highways, Shipping and Water a large group of eminent international also organized during the conference, Resources, River Development and and national experts and local farmers apart from the presentation of micro- Ganga Rejuvenation Mr. Nitin Gadkari sharing their experiences in the field of irrigation awards to farmers, practitioners, inaugurated the event as the chief guest latest development in micro irrigation companies and government. Additionally, and was presided by Hon’ble Chief technology to enhance crop production the event aimed to address the problems Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Devendra and water management for optimal use of developing as well as developed Fadnavis. Union Minister for Agriculture in agriculture, technical and sociological nations in the context of present-day and Farmers Welfare Mr. Radha Mohan interventions for sustainable water, food challenges. Around 700 delegates Singh, Minister of State for Water and agriculture. including 100 foreign delegates from 30 Resources, River Development & Ganga As a part of the conference, Water and countries participated in the conference Rejuvenation and Parliamentary Affairs Land Management Institute (WALMI), that provided a global platform to Mr. Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Ministers Aurangabad organized a one-day professionals and exhibitors to showcase from several state governments also “National Micro Irrigation Workshop for their knowledge and technologies from presided as the guest of honour during Farmers” on 15 January 2019. Around around