For Private Circulation Only 1News News Update Update April 2003 International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage Established 1950 APRIL 2003 3rd WWF Special Issue 3rd World Water Forum (WWF) – developing-country needs. Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, Prince of Orange Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, Concludes at Kyoto and Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco addressed the gathering in the opening ceremony, followed by the rd The 3 World Water Forum was held in three neighbouring presentation of the first King Hassan II Great World Water cities of Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka of Japan from 16-23 Prize. The prize carries an amount of US$100,000 and was March 2003. More than 300 sessions on 38 inter-linking jointly presented to Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid (Egypt) and themes dealing with water were organised. As per the Mr. Jerson Kelman (Brazil) for their outstanding World Water Council (WWC), the sponsor of the Forum, contributions in the field of water resource management about 24,000 people, including 6000 from overseas attended and development. the mega event. Delegates from nearly 180 countries discussed a wide range of water related issues and The 3rd WWF was closed with a declaration promising to endeavoured to identify concrete actions to be taken. The make water issues a top priority among Governments. The Forum mainly comprised a Virtual Water Forum, a Water following is a summary of the ministerial declaration adopted Voice Project, Thematic & Regional Dialogues, a World at Kyoto. Water Action report, and Ministerial Conference. An exhibition by several water related international Access to clean water is essential for sustainable organizations, Water Fair and Festivals were held throughout development and the eradication of poverty and the Forum. Professionals from many National Committees hunger. of ICID attended the Forum. The Japanese National Doubling of the spending on water infrastructure in Committee (JNC-ICID) jointly with the Central Office developing countries. ICID held a stall displaying various publications & posters. Increased private-sector participation and public- private partnerships (PPP) to tackle water issues. In his opening remarks at the Opening ceremony, Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto, Chair of the National Steering Devise integrated water-resources management plans Committee of the 3rd WWF noted that at the 2002 World by 2005, and to assist developing countries. Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Far more investment in water supply and sanitation Johannesburg, it was agreed that the number of people is needed to halve the proportion of people without without access to clean water and basic sanitation facilities access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by would be halved by 2015. He stressed the importance of 2015. concrete actions and dialogue for reaching these targets. He Collective efforts should be redoubled to mobilize underscored three basic principles of the Forum that- it was financial and technical resources, both public and open to all; it will be created by the participation of all; and private, to achieve the goals. it should translate vision into actions and commitments. Effective and equitable management of water is Mr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the WWC, said that required to eradicate poverty in rural areas. the Forum provided an opportunity to take stock of progress On-farm water management should be improved via and assess what further work was necessary. He highlighted innovative investment, research and development, four priorities: the development of new world water ethics; and cooperation. the establishment of a funding facility for water activities; Better legislative frameworks are necessary to protect the promotion of water security; and the prioritization of water resources and prevent water pollution. Managing Water for Sustainable Agriculture • Water for Food and Rural Development 2 News Update April 2003 Land-use regulations, disaster-warning systems and Problems of operation and maintenance, (4) Low efficiency national risk-management systems are needed to of water use, (5) Low level of water charges and revenues, limit the impact of floods and droughts. (6) Environmental impacts of projects (dams), and (7) Data and knowledge should be shared between Degradation of natural resources. He informed that in many countries to minimize disaster damage. Asian countries contribution of agriculture to economy (GDP, Labour Force) is declining. Currently the growth of Outcome of some important theme/ sessions of ICID’s cultivated area is about 1.3% per annum compared to 2.2% interest is given below: during past 30 years. The present harvested area is 0.113 ha/ person which is likely to decrease to 0.083 ha/ person by “Agriculture, Food and Water” 2030. The rate of expansion of irrigated area, which was 2.3% during 1970-1980, had declined to 1.0% between The theme” Agriculture, Food and Water” was jointly co- 1990-2000 and is likely to further dwindle to 0.6% between ordinated by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2000-2025. However, there was a need to increase global the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage cereal production from the present 1.84 billion tons to 2.8 (ICID) and the Japanese National Committee of ICID billion tons by 2030. The President ICID stated that (JNC-ICID). Noting the Millennium Development Goals increasing food production required moving from “more (MDG) of halving poverty and hunger by 2015, Mr. Ryota crop per drop” to “more crop less drop”. He highlighted the Nakamura, Chairman, JNC-ICID, stressed the need to raise need to boost irrigation investment, especially for land productivity and food production, and urged greater rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and modernization water efficiency in agriculture. enabling to achieve a modest 10% saving in irrigation water Mr. Ian Johnson, World Bank, stressed the importance of consumption. Irrigated agriculture will always generate responsible economic growth. He underscored the link externalities like increased ground water recharge, water between agricultural production and poverty reduction, and purification, control of floods and soil erosion, air cooling called for: “leveling the playing field”; inclusive of and aesthetic effects, and creation of rural employment. transparent water institutions; and investment in water Thus, one should look “Beyond the Canal” to understand supply, management, and research and development. the challenges of irrigated agriculture, President stressed. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Keizrul bin Abdullah, President, ICID, talked Prof. Sawada Toshio, Kyoto University, presented on “Looking Beyond The Canal: The Challenges of Irrigated challenges in ensuring sustainable water utilization. Using Agriculture in the 21st Century”. He listed several key issues paddy-field irrigation in Monsoon Asia as an example, he for development of new irrigated agricultural projects viz. highlighted the social, economic and environmental benefits (1) Rising capital cost, (2) Low return on capital, (3) of irrigated rice paddy cultivation. Theme Statement “Agriculture, Food and Water” Key Issues investments in the modernization of existing irrigation systems, and new water resource development are clearly The world’s growing population and changing consumption needed. patterns will continue to drive demand for food which already now claims the dominant share of freshwater Actions abstractions. In the latter half of last century, significant public and private investment in agriculture has resulted in Irrigated agriculture will need to be carefully examined to much needed productivity gains, and has closen food security discern where society can benefit most effectively from it’s gaps, particularly in areas otherwise vulnerable to climatic application. Access to natural resources will have to be variability. Without this massive investment in agriculture, negotiated with other users in a transparent fashion in world would have experienced devastating starvation. order to effect optimal use of limited water resources to deal with human welfare, food security and poverty reduction. Providing enough water is an enormous challenge, Irrigation is under pressure to perform as a service to especially in those regions and countries where water is agriculture, not as an end in itself. This will involve a shift scarce. A substantial increase of water productivity, Contd... Managing Water for Sustainable Agriculture • Water for Food and Rural Development 3 News Update April 2003 in approach from a supply-driven to a demand-response Adaptive research - in a more inter-disciplinary manner activity. Integrated water resources management provides is needed to identify and promote most promising options a basis for this action by allowing clear comparison and for increase in agricultural water productivity, with negotiation for resources across all sectors. specific attention to transformation of paddy irrigation, and improved irrigation management in water scarce Recommendations regions. More research is also needed in understanding A more strategic development of the available land and the multiple roles of agriculture, in particular in Asian water resources, both in irrigation and rain-fed monsoon regions; agriculture, will be needed to serve effective demand Constructive dialogues must be promoted between while providing opportunities to conserve the natural irrigation and other sectors to accommodate private resources base; and public interests and facilitate allocation