The major challenge facing irrigated agriculture today is producing more food using less water i.e. increasing water productivity in both irrigated and rainfed agriculture. It is generally acknowledged that irrigated agriculture is the main engine of growth in most developing economies, and can have positive impacts far beyond the economy of crop production. However, irrigation is now coming under increasing scrutiny as availability of freshwater resources is shrinking and competition among different water use sectors intensifies. This threat was recognized by ICID and brought to the fore on the occasion of its 15th International Congress held at The Hague in 1993 decided to “promote new programs for water savings in agriculture to enable the release of water for other emerging high priority uses". Taking cue from there, ICID launched the WATSAVE initiative in late 1993 and established the Working Group on Water Saving for Agriculture (WG-WATS) in 1994.  WG-WATS has been mandated to recognize proven water saving innovations, and to identify and promote successful water conservation. Realizing that the technology would play an important role in the improving ‘Water Use Efficiency’, in raising water productivity, and in solving the future water scarcity problems, the Working Group aims to recognize proven water saving innovations, and to identify and promote successful water conservation. The WG also coordinates annual “Water saving Awards” for outstanding contribution to water savings in agriculture worldwide.

• WatSave Awards
• Permanent Committee on Strategy and Organization (PCSO)
• Permanent Committee on Technical Activities (PCTA)
• Task Forces (TF)
• Completed/ Past Workbodies Task Forces