It has been said that just as the conflicts of the 20th century were often over the sharing of scarce petroleum resources, those of the 21st century will probably be over the sharing of water. Some estimates suggest that world food demand could double in the next two decades. That will translate into a huge demand for water. Further stress on scarce water resources will be caused by population growth, the majority of which will be dependent on agriculture; industry and will lead to urbanization. Nowhere are these challenges more pressing than in Asia.

The spectre of climate change will also have an unpredictable consequence on the water regime. Various studies point towards its adverse impact on the hydrologic cycle that could result in the intensification of both temporal and spatial variations in precipitation.

In our country, we are already struggling every year with floods in one part of the country and droughts in other parts of our country. This year, we had severe floods in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere. At the same time around 300 districts of the country were declared as being drought affected. These imbalances will only intensify with climatic distortions that are now on the horizon. Moreover, there are concerns that climate change may also adversely impact on ground water table and its quality, affecting thereby productivity of the cropping systems.

The challenge of managing our water resources in a rational and sustainable manner will thus require action on many fronts and coordination across different sectors of the economy. In India, we have tried to address these complex inter-relationships through the formulation of a National Water Mission, which is one of the eight national missions that are part of our National Action Plan on Climate Change launched recently by the Government of India.

The main objective of our “National Water Mission” is integrated water resource management by conserving water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within various states of our union. Some of the key action areas of the “National Water Mission” are:

Placing of a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources;

Promotion of citizen and State actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation;

Focused attention to over-exploited areas;

Increasing water use efficiency by at least 20%; and,

Promotion of basin level integrated water resource management.

The Water Mission will seek to develop new regulatory structures, combined with appropriate entitlements and pricing of water. It will seek to optimize the efficiency of existing irrigation systems. Incentive structures will be designed to promote water-neutral or water positive technologies, recharging of underground water sources and adoption of large- scale irrigation programmes that rely on sprinklers, drip irrigation and ridge and furrow irrigation.

An expansion of irrigation and improvement in irrigation efficiency are thus key not only to improving agricultural productivity but also to our strategy for sustainable water use. There has to be a greater synergy between our agricultural policies and our water policies with a view to securing food supply, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population, through more efficient and sustainable use of scarce water resources.

The target of doubling the annual rate of growth of agriculture in India to 4% during the Eleventh Plan Period of 2007-2012 is a top priority for our government. To achieve this, we are sharply increasing public investment in agriculture. The most important area for investment in agriculture relates to the provision of water and its most efficient use. In fact, we hope to be able to add about 16 million hectares to the irrigated area during the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

But, an assessment of the irrigation system in India indicates that efficiencies of surface water systems can be improved from the present level of 35 to 40% to about 60% and that of groundwater systems from the existing 65% to about 75%. Similar situations prevail in most developing countries in Asia and we have a great deal to learn from each others experience. Utilization of created irrigation potential is another crucial issue. In India only about 84% of the created irrigation potential has been utilized thus far. Efficient use of crop water can increase the gross irrigated area, either by increasing the irrigated cropped area or the intensity of irrigation. All these options have to be explored and collaboration in research among countries represented here shall be a very important, fruitful collaborative exercise to improve the efficiency of water and promote its sustainable use.

Therefore, the subject of your deliberations today has vital importance for countries like India that are investing heavily in irrigation schemes. We look forward to the outcome of your deliberations today that could, I hope that will make a practical contribution to the adoption of best practices in the irrigation systems in India and elsewhere in Asia.

We need to increase investment in agricultural technologies, particularly those related to improved crop practices, water savings, design of storage structures & more efficient farm implements. The first Green Revolution came due to innovations developed in the public sector. The second Green Revolution may well come from technologies developed in the private sector. It is therefore essential that private investment and innovation be incorporated within a broader vision and strategy of development in the agriculture and water sectors.

It is equally important that developed technologies reach the farmers particularly the poorest farmers. I am very happy that the Ministry of Water Resources has launched a “Farmers’ Participatory Action Research Programme” through Agriculture Universities and Agriculture Research Institutes with a view to demonstrate available technologies for increasing productivity and profitability of agriculture. Such programmes need to be expanded.

I would like to emphasize that water-related issues need to be addressed with the full involvement of the local communities and take into account specific local conditions and concerns. Farmers as principal stakeholders should be consulted in any agricultural water management initiatives. Women play a key role in food production activities in a large number of countries. Therefore, a special effort should be made to involve women in process of decision-making.

I wish to conclude by saying that we should work together, learn from each other and harness all our scarce resources to give substance to the slogan “More Crop and Income per Drop”. I wish your Conference all success.”

[Source : Prime Minister's Office]

NEW DELHI 
DECEMBER 10, 2009 

Honourable Prime Minister,
Honourable Union Minister of Water 
Honourable State Minister of Water 
Secretary of Water Resources 
Chairman of Central Water Commission and of INCID 
ICID Secretary General 
Distinguished guests and Colleagues 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all this morning to the opening of the 60th International Executive Council meeting of ICID and the 5th Asian Regional Conference. I am particularly pleased to say how wonderful it is for us to gather here in Delhi, the home of ICID. For it is here, some 60 years ago, that our founding fathers gave birth to ICID. And it is through the gracious goodwill of the Government of India that the premises of our Central Office have been bequeathed. I therefore take this opportunity, Honourable Prime Minister, on behalf of all the National Committees and members of the ICID family, to express my deepest gratitude to the Government and people of India for their generosity towards ICID over the past six decades.

Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Ministers of Water and distinguished colleagues, the mission of ICID, in summary, is to enhance the worldwide supply of food and fibre, by improving water and land productivity. The FAO estimates that an additional 100 million people in the world have been deprived access to adequate food in the past year, as a result of the current food crisis, and the number of people estimated to be undernourished is over 1 billion. Very startling statistics indeed. This statistic is even more dramatic when we consider that food production will have to double in the next 25 years or so, to meet rising population levels. The question is how will we accomplish this task, given the current drivers of water scarcity and climate change, which are affecting the sustainability of our food production system. The recent G8 and G20 summits in L'Aquila, Italy have therefore rightly placed food security and the water crisis at the top of the global development agenda.

It is my view that ICID, the largest international organization dedicated to water for food and fibre production, through its 108 member countries, active National Committees and committees of experts is best placed to finding solutions to the problems of water for food security. We will have failed our children and their children, through our inaction. But I believe that ICID has made many positive strides to enhance the productivity of irrigated and drainage lands over the past 6 decades, and I am even more convinced that, as a collective group of international experts, we have the determination to make further technical, institutional and social-economic breakthroughs in the future.

We all have shining examples, in our respective countries, of solid achievements in the irrigation and drainage sector, which have boosted the food producing potential of our patrimonial lands. In this regards, by virtue of our meeting in India, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of India for its significant investments in agriculture and water resources development over the decades, and its extensive efforts at boosting food production, in order to satisfy the demands of the poorest of the poor.

Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Ministers of Water, your achievements in food security in some of the worlds hardest of climatic extremes are laudable. In the last 50 years, you have quadrupled food grain production from 50 million tones to over 200 million tones. In light of such accomplishments, I am sure we will benefit wisely from our deliberations here in your remarkable country.

I thank you most wholeheartedly for welcoming us to India, and specifically wish to thank the Ministry of Water Resources, the Central Water Commission, and the Indian National Committee of ICID for organizing and hosting this excellent set of ICID meetings.

Thank you

Chandra A. Madramootoo

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.

The tradition of creating of water infrastructure in India could be traced back to the times of ancient scriptures, though the sizeable water diversion from major rivers like the Cauvery dates back to the Chola Kingdom of the peninsular India (in the present Tamil Nadu State) dating back to over 1800 years.

India is privileged to host the ICID base after a laudable initiative in 1950, co-opting with 11 other nations with similar enthusiasm. The Central Office, located in the Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi is in a central enviable area where foreign embassies and missions are located. ICID has now grown as an established global network with a membership of 108 member countries. We are proud to usher in the 60th year in June 2009. The upcoming ICID international council meetings coupled with Asian Regional Conference in December 2009 indeed connote our Diamond Jubilee.

With the dominant size of irrigated agriculture in the country, India's concerted efforts are being shifted to increase water productivity as this alone can guarantee the food and feed for the increasing billions of people ensuring nutritional demands besides its livestock population that is as sizeable as its human counts. This year's theme for the regional congress is exactly that.

The scope to revamp the traditional systems asks for picking up the best of the state of the art knowledge available, anywhere in the world. And indeed, further improve upon it or tailor it to Indian needs. Irrigation practices are getting revolutionized with the growing pressure on water for various uses and there are interesting lessons to learn from each other and the conference provides ample scope for this to happen. Exhibits by Global Entrepreneurs in the field of modern irrigated agriculture will showcase evolving new technologies to help the developing countries to closely see their relevance in their own settings; there is a dire need to enhance the performance of large scale schemes already developed to yield manifold production while saving water for optimal utilisation.

I congratulate the organizers for their thoughtfulness to bring out a souvenir on the occasion. This provides an opportunity not only for irrigated agricultural sector but also other associated water agencies to highlight the impressive strides taking place.

We are grateful to INCID's Advisory / Organising / Science and Technology Committees for their efforts to mentor in organizing the 5th Asian Regional Conference befitting the ICID Diamond Jubilee.

M. Gopalakrishnan
Secretary General