E-Newsletter # 54
THE INPIM E-NEWSLETTER
June 1, 2006; Number 54
http://www.inpim.org
ihussain@inpim.org
Welcome to the INPIM E-Newsletter #54
INPIM NEWS AND EVENTS
Ø INPIM’s Second International Capacity Building Program in Izmir/ Turkey is only 18 days away
Ø New Governing Body of INPIM’s India Chapter (IndiaNPIM)
Ø Over 150 Abstracts Received for the Upcoming 4th Asian Regional Conference and the 10th INPIM International Seminar
OTHER NEWS
Ø A New Millennium Mega Project on Improving Irrigation Infrastructure and Institutions in Pakistan
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Ø World Bank's Water Toolkit (April 26, 2006)
Ø Improved Agricultural Water Control Is Key to Meeting the World's Growing Food Needs (March 22, 2006)
Ø Towards Co-management of Hydro-agricultural Infrastructures: Lessons Learnt from the Prey Nup Project in Cambodia (May 15, 2006)
Ø Water for Food - Water for Profit
Ø Spatial Water Management: Supporting Participatory Planning & Decision Making
Ø Managing water for food and ecosystems
Ø The newly revised version of FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 60
EVENTS
Ø First International Conference on Sustainable Irrigation Management, Technologies and Policies
September 5-7 2006
Bologna, Italy
Ø Working From the Source towards Sustainable Water Management
June 4-7 2006
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ø Advanced Training Course on Integrated Watershed Management (INWAMA)
June 5-September 4 2006
Kanpur, India; Beijing, China
Ø Water Resources Management and Irrigation and Drainage Systems Development in the European Environment
September 3-8 2007
Pavia and Rome, Italy
Ø 5th AFITA Conference
November 9-11 2006
Asian Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Bangalore, India
Ø AGRO ENVIRON 2006
September 4-7 2006
Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Ø Prosperity and Poverty in a Globalized World - Challenges for Agricultural Research
October 11-13 2006
Ø Africa Rice Congress
July 31-August 4 2006
Ø Bioacademy 2006
June 29-July 1 2006
Lednice, Czech Republic
Ø Agroenviron 2006
September 4-7 2006
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Ø 3rd APHW Conference "Wise Water Resources Management Towards Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction"
October 16-18 2006
Bangkok, Thailand
Ø PAWEES 2006 (4th) International Conference on Management of Paddy and Water Environment for Sustainable Rice Production
August 10-11 2006
Utsunomiya University, Tochigi Japan
Ø 3rd International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management
September 26-28 2006
Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Ø International Seminar and Study Tour on Hydropower- Operation and Maintenance
October 16-24 2006
Denver, Colorado, USA
Ø International Symposium on Water Resources and Renewable Energy Development in Asia
November 30-December 1 2006
Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Ø Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning
April 25-27 2007
Tivoli Almansor Hotel, Algarve, Portugal
Ø MEDA Water International Conference on Sustainable Water Management: Rational Water Use, Wastewater Treatment and reuse (RUWTR 2006)
June 8-10 2006
Marrakech, Morocco
Ø The Middle East Water Congress 2006
June 12-13 2006
Dubai, UAE
Ø The World’s Water crises: Turning the Tide-Policies for the future
June 20 2006
Brussels, Belgium
Ø 3rd Workshop and Short Intensive course on Wetland Water Management
June 26-July 2 2006
Biebrza, Poland
Ø 8th Cannes Water Symposium 2006
June 26-30 2006
Cannes, France
CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAININGS
Ø Advanced Training Course on Integrated Watershed Management (INWAMA)
Ø Online Short Course: Service Oriented Management of Irrigation System
Ø Opportunity for Young Professionals in Asia
August 2006
Ø Intensive Courses in Desalination
July 26-27 2006
Ø A Training on: Water, the solidarity of people and territories
September 28-30 2006
DONORS’ INVESTMENTS IN IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
Ø Lending for Irrigation and Drainage Projects by the World Bank
Ø Lending for Irrigation and Drainage Projects by the Asian Development Bank in 2006-2008
DETAILS
INPIM NEWS AND EVENTS
INPIM’s Second International Capacity Building Program in Izmir/ Turkey is only 18 days away
We are pleased to announce that participants from 9 countries (Afghanistan, Albania, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, Philippines and Uzbekistan) will be participating in INPIM’s 2nd Capacity Building Program to be held during 18-29 June 2006 in Izmir/ Turkey. INPIM and DSI warmly welcome the participants to this program.
The International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management (INPIM) is organizing this Second Capacity Building Program in collaboration with the State Hydraulic Works, Turkey (DSI). The program will be held at the International Agrohydrology Research and Training Center, Menemen, near the picturesque city of Izmir, Turkey. The Program seeks to improve the capacity of those working in the field of irrigation management to use participatory management methods as a part of irrigation reform. The program aims to train participants from various countries from among irrigation managers, practitioners, policy makers and trainers involved in national programs, through a 12-day intensive course which will include lectures, group exercises, discussions and field visits. We know you will find the information gained from the program to be of great value to you and your work.
New Governing Body of INPIM’s India Chapter (IndiaNPIM)
INPIM’s India Chapter (IndiaNPIM) has recently elected its fourth governing body (for 2006-07) that had its third meeting on May 20, 2006 in New Delhi. IndiaPIM has currently 289 life members. The governing body will remain in office for two years i.e. 2006-07. Following are the elected members of this new governing body.
- Shri C.Sithapathi Rao President
- Dr. Veerpal Vice-President
- Shri Y.D. Sharma Secretary cum Treasurer
- Shri A. S. Dhingra Member
- Dr. R.S. Pachori Member
- Shri P.K. Sinha Member
- Shri D.D. Sahoo Member
- Shri C.M.Tejawat Member
- Dr.George Chechacherry Member
Over 150 Abstracts Received for the Upcoming 4th Asian Regional Conference and the 10th INPIM International Seminar
INPIM and IRNCID are thankful to all the authors for submitting abstracts for the upcoming 4th Asian Regional Conference and the 10th INPIM International Seminar.We have received excellent response on submission of abstracts for papers. Over 150 abstctas have been submitted with many of them of high quality, matching the three sub-themes of the seminar. The subthemes are:
a. Review of Participatory Measures in Irrigation
i. Implemented and proposed processes (frameworks, methods and indices);
ii. Success stories on implemented projects.
b. Required Grounds and Facilities for PIM Formation
i. Organizational reforms
ii. Cultural, social and political grounds;
iii. Legal frameworks and norms.
c. Support System for PIM Sustainability
i. Policies and Strategies;
ii. Capacity Building, training and extension;
iii. Monitoring and evaluation
The list of accepted abstracts of papers is now available on the following website:
We look forward to receiving full papers from the authors. Thank you and see you in Tehran.
OTHER NEWS
A New Millennium Mega Project on Improving Irrigation Infrastructure and Institutions in Pakistan
(The following detail is based on various publicly available documents)
Brief History:
The Government of Pakistan initiated On-Farm Water Management Program (OFWM) from 1976-77 with assistance from USAID. The program included, initially on pilot basis in selected seven tehsils of Punjab, improvement of watercourses, formation of water user associations (WUAs), precision land leveling and provision of technical training and demonstration activities. Overtime the program was expanded to most districts in the country, particularly in Punjab and Sindh. So far the OFWM program has improved around 45,000 of the estimated total 140,627 watercourses in the country. The on-going OFWM program, which is supported by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and OECF, is improving about 4000 watercourses per year. At this rate, it will require 20 years to improve remaining watercourses in the country. However, in view of increasing water shortages and persistent drought experienced over the past 5 years, the government has shown significant interest in accelerating and expanding the OFWM program across the country.
The Mega Project
On 29 September 2003, a presentation was made by the Chief Minister’s Advisor to the President of Pakistan suggesting the program be expanded to increase water supplies through reduction in water losses occurring at various levels (canals- 15 percent, distributaries – 8 percent and watercourses- 30 percent). It was estimated that OFWM program would cost only 25 percent of alternate sources of creating an additional amount of water supplies. Therefore, a ‘National Program for Improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan (NPIWCP)’ was launched/approved in December 2004 to improve remaining 86003 watercourses in the country (34.9 percent in Punjab, 33.7 percent in Sindh, and remaining in other provinces and areas/territories). The program is planned to be completed in fifty months with estimated cost of Rs. 66373.49 million (with 76.32 percent from federal government, 1.61 percent from provincial governments and 22.07 percent from farmers).
The main objectives of the program are: (i) increasing agricultural production by effective utilization of irrigation water through improvement of watercourses, (ii) promoting increased employment opportunities in rural areas, (iii) alleviating poverty through increased productivity and production at the farm level, and (iv) promoting good governance through devolution of powers to district administration and involvement of farmers in decision-making processes and operation and maintenance of irrigation systems. The program has four major components: (a) community development and support program to establish sustainable farmers organizations, (b) improvement of watercourses in canal commands and barani areas, (c) program management, supervision, monitoring and evaluation/assessment, and (d) training of staff and officials both of district administration as well as WUAs. The specific activities and targets of the program include: (i) organizing 86003 WUAs/Khal Punchayats and their registration under OFWM and WUAs Ordinance 1981, (ii) improving 86003 watercourses involving complete earthen renovation, partial lining of critical reaches (lining of 30 percent of total length of a watercourse, with around one-third of this length in fresh groundwater areas and two-thirds in saline groundwater areas) and installation of water control structures (including 2.22 million naccas and 213000 culverts), and (iv) provide training to freshly recruited technical staff in surveying and designing watercourses.
As per official documents, it is expected that the program will generate substantial benefits. These include, (i) saving of 8 million acre feet (MAF) of irrigation water per year, (ii) reduction in salinity and water logging by 10 percent, (iii) increase in cropping intensity by 5-10 percent, (iv) increase in crop yield by 10-15 percent, (v) other benefits such as reduction in water disputes/thefts, improvements in food security, income and employment generation, livelihood improvement and poverty alleviation, and awareness raising among farmers.
NPIWCP has the following key features:
(i) the program adopts integrated approach by integrating infrastructure improvements with development of institutions and dissemination of technologies/improved methods of cultivation (i.e. precision land leveling),
(ii) the program promotes conjunctive use of surface and groundwater – by re-building/re-aligning/partly lining of watercourses and installation of water control structures to improve conveyance of canal and groundwater,
(iii) the program promotes infrastructure design that favors multiple uses of water (livestock, washing, bathing etc) by providing culverts, animal wallows, washing places, and lining of reaches passing through villages.
(iv) the program evaluation emphasize on adopting integrated approaches to assessments of various aspects – physical/hydrological, environmental, agricultural, institutional, socio-economic and financial/fiscal aspects,
(v) the program emphasis is on increasing water productivity and multiple benefits of water, in addition to increasing only irrigation efficiencies as in the past.
(vi) the program promotes only partial lining of watercourses, with greater emphasis on saline groundwater areas,
(vii) the program emphasizes on benefits to disadvantaged locations (e.g. tailends), small and marginal farmers and overall impacts on agricultural growth and poverty alleviation, and
(viii) the program is being implemented through public-private/community partnerships.
However, the implementation success and evaluation of the actual impacts of this mega project remains to be seen.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
World Bank's Water Toolkit (April 26, 2006)
Water and sanitation services have specific features that complicate their provision and management. They are essential services characterized by natural monopoly, and their assets are difficult and expensive to develop and monitor. This Toolkit aims to assist governments in developing countries that are interested in using private participation to help expand access to safe water and sanitation services at reasonable cost.
Instead of identifying a single approach, the Toolkit illustrates policy design options to support arrangements that deliver good quality water services to the poor, discussing the main advantages and disadvantages of the several options. In doing this the Toolkit also helps governments to see whether private participation might be part of the solution to problems in the water sector.
Improved Agricultural Water Control Is Key to Meeting the World's Growing Food Needs
WORLD WATER DAY, 22 March 2006 (FAO) - As water resources shrink and world population grows, the agriculture sector faces a complex challenge: producing more food of better quality while using less water and ensuring environmental sustainability. Learn more about how improved agricultural water control can help meet the world's growing food needs and spur rural development in a series of articles marking World Water Day.
Towards co-management of hydro-agricultural infrastructures: lessons learnt from the Prey Nup Project in Cambodia
Numerous public hydro-agricultural infrastructures around the world are in crisis. Today, there is a consensus in favour of combining the rehabilitation of infrastructures with the transfer of responsibility for these infrastructures to farmers’ organisations using participatory methods. Yet, how can one implement such processes, truly support the emergence or strengthening of local organisations, and allow a coherent and effective institutional schema to emerge progressively?
Launched in 1998, the Prey Nup polder rehabilitation project is the first management transfer experiment in Cambodia. It used experimental methods to combine physical rehabilitation/upgrading, land tenure securisation, and agricultural development support in an associative construction process. Indeed, the success and durability of such a transfer of management depend on the emergence of a solid, efficient organisation with real internal regulation capacities. This experience shows that the construction of a local capacity for management is a process that undergoes crises, faces challenges, and requires strategic steering. It shows that lasting management does not grow out of State withdrawal, but rather results from the construction of co-management shared by the State and local organisations based on a clear legal and contractual framework and State support for local regulation capacities. This document is a translation of an excerpt of the book "Vers une cogestion des infrastructures hydro-agricoles. Construction associative et réhabilitation de polders : l’expérience du projet Prey Nup au Cambodge", published in 2005 by Éditions du Gret as part of its Études et travaux series. The book brings together the lessons learnt from this project regarding designing and implementing responsibility transfer projects, steering institution-building actions, and the links between the elaboration of public policies and experimental projects. The more complete French book gives a very detailed and precise description of the process of building a local capacity for management and presents the lessons that one can learn and conclusions one can draw from the experience
Water for Food - Water for Profit
A new report titled "Water for Food - Water for Profit", commissioned by Bread for the World (Germany), and three Briefing Papers look at the water policy of the World Bank. They are the latest additions to a series of papers, backing the campaign "Water as a Human Right". The author Uwe Hoering outlines how the Bank systematically uses its influence on the water policies in many developing countries to promote: the construction of new mega dams and other big hydraulic infrastructure, the privatization in irrigation agriculture, and the introduction of economic water management instruments like cost recovery and tradable water rights. See right to water notice for full details.
Spatial Water Management: Supporting Participatory Planning & Decision Making
The book Spatial Water Management introduces the reader to the current Dutch policy of water management, which combines conventional water engineering with a new policy, which incorporates planning for flood areas. The full title of the book is Spatial Water Management: Supporting Participatory Planning & Decision Making and it contributes to the understanding of how decision support tools can be used in order to create support among the numerous groups of stakeholders involved in this planning policy and presents actual spatial evaluation tools that can be used to weigh the various stakes of all parties involved. The book can be ordered through the publisher. For more information about the book and the author, see Technepress website.
Managing water for food and ecosystems
Managing water for food and ecosystems entails supporting stakeholders and decision makers to reach a common understanding on the priorities and necessary arrangements for sharing and allocating water resources. This can be supported by water valuation, which can help to express the multiple values associated with water resources and water-related goods and services. FAO Water Report 30 confronts concepts from the literature on water valuation with practical experiences in an outline of a stakeholder-oriented valuation approach. Contact: Leon Hermans.
Newly revised version of FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 60
The newly revised version of FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 60 presents practical guidelines to assess the need for envelopes and to select appropriate materials (i.e. pipes and envelopes) for the proper and lasting performance of subsurface drainage systems. In addition, it contains guidelines for adequate installation and maintenance of drainage materials as well as the required specifications and standards of such materials, which may be used in tender documents for implementation of subsurface drainage works. This paper aims to provide this practical information to drainage engineers and contractors who are in charge of drainage projects. Contact: Julian Martínez Beltrán
EVENTS
First International Conference on Sustainable Irrigation Management, Technologies and Policies
This conference seeks to address the different aspects of irrigation, including not only the management of water resources and scientifi c and technical aspects, but also matters related to policy and economics.
The conference aims to attract researchers in academia and industry as well as professional practitioners and policy makers to review the state of the art from the scientific, technological, political and economic points of view. Its objective is also to discuss how to reach the sustainable management of irrigation resources in the future by applying modern simulation methods, advanced and new technologies as well as analysing different policies and economic forecasting techniques.
Working From the Source towards Sustainable Water Management
Almost 20 years have passed since the concept of sustainability originated from the United Nation’s Brundtland Commission Report, and society is still actively working to define benchmarks for sustainable practices: how to “live within its environmental means” and “balance the needs of the environment, the economy, and human society”. Mounting evidence suggests that current Canadian practices do not yet produce sustainable results. Typical consumption rates remain among the highest in the world and result in localized shortages in resource supplies, release of contaminants posing health risks, and stress on environmental systems. These unsustainable practices are contributing to global concerns, such as climate change, which will exacerbate our challenge to adopt lifestyles that promote more sustainability. However, significant advancements are being made in science, technology and practice. Are we on the verge of a major shift towards sustainable water management?
Safe and plentiful water resources are critical to all aspects of our lives. The Canadian Water Resources Association invites a wide range of participants – from the water sector and beyond - to join in discussions aimed at defining benchmarks of sustainable water management and identifying critical strategies for moving forward.
During the conference, there will be many opportunities to share experiences on a range of water initiatives, including a progress review on boundary water issues, drinking water source protection, “green” city planning, regeneration of degraded ecosystems, monitoring and reporting, efficient water use and many more.
Water Resources Management and Irrigation and Drainage Systems Development in the European Environment
http://www.italicid.it/I...ement.pdf
The Conference will, among others, focus on the following topics: 1) Impacts of Extreme Hydrological Events on Irrigation and Drainage Systems. 2) Energy Saving Technology in Advanced Irrigation Systems. 3) Conjunctive Use of Surface and Groundwater. 4) Participatory Management and Economic Policies for Irrigation and Drainage Development.
5th AFITA Conference
http://www.infosysplus.o...set_id=96
Asian Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Bangalore, India
AGRO ENVIRON 2006
http://www.infosysplus.o...et_id=103
AGRO ENVIRON 2006 Fifth International Symposium on the Agricultural Environment 4 - 7 September 2006 Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Agricultural constraints within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum
Prosperity and Poverty in a Globalized World - Challenges for Agricultural Research
http://www.infosysplus.o...et_id=114
The annual Conference on Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural and Natural Resource Management (DEUTSCHER TROPENTAG, DTT) is jointly organized by the universities of Berlin, Göttingen, Hohenheim, Bonn and Kassel-Witzenhausen as well as by the Council for Tropical and Subtropical Research (ATSAF e.V) in cooperation with BEAF/ GTZ.
Africa Rice Congress
http://www.infosysplus.o...et_id=115
The Africa Rice Congress will bring together scientists, the public, private and civil society organizations (including NGOs) engaged in rice sub-sector development to examine past successes and pave a new direction for rice research and development in Africa for the next decade. The Rice Congress will be organized by the Africa Rice Center (WARDA), under the distinguished patronage of the Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.. more.......
Bioacademy 2006
http://www.infosysplus.o...et_id=108
The Bioacademy is an annual event held in Lednice in the Czech Republic, not far from the borders with Austria and Slovaia. As well as the specialist programme there are also importatnt meeditns of agriculturalists and other technical specialists in this field who tradidionally come to Lednice. Important point of the Bioacademy is the introductory plenary meeting with participation of ministers, politicians, representatives of government administration, associations or research institutes. Practical part of the conference are excursions to organic farms. (Note: The date of meeting is preliminary.)
Agroenviron 2006
http://www.infosysplus.o...et_id=119
The first Agro Environ symposium was organized by the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Pakistan) in 1998. Trakya University, Tekirdag (Turkey) hosted the symposium in 2000 and the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Cairo (Egypt) the one in 2002. The fourth symposium of the series was organized in 2004 by the University of Udine (Italy). This series of symposia proved to be a tool for involving scientists, engineers, planners, research centres and institutions on issues related to the agricultural environment. The fifth symposium Agro Environ 2006 will be held at Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, from 4 - 7 September 2006 and coordinated by research groups of the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care.
3rd APHW Conference "Wise Water Resources Management Towards Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction"
The APHW conferences are organized regularly to raise water problems or cases within framework relevant to the geography and climate of the Asia Pacific region and offer possible approaches or solutions. The conference features the regional characteristics and water problems, lessons from the past, sound utilization of water resources, climate change, variation and disasters, and wise water resources management.
PAWEES 2006 (4th) International Conference on Management of Paddy and Water Environment for Sustainable Rice Production
For more information, please contact: Dr.Yutaka Matsuno, Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Conference, Department of International Resources Management Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505 Japan.
Email: matsuno@nara.kindai.ac.jp
Conference website: www.jsidre.or.jp/pawees2006
3rd International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management
www.hydrology.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
For more information, please contact: Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Andreas Schumann, Institute of Hydrology, Water Resources Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum.
International Seminar and Study Tour on Hydropower- Operation and Maintenance
For more information, please contact: International Affairs Team, D-2100, Bureau of Reclamation, P. O. Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 80225.
Tel: 1-303-445-2127; Fax: 1-303-445-6322
Email: Lprincipe@do.usbr.gov (Leanna Principe).
International Symposium on Water Resources and Renewable Energy Development in Asia
For more information, please contact: Mrs. Maria Flintan, Hydropower and Dams, Aqua Media international Ltd., Suite 34, Westmead House, 123 Westmead Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4JH, UK.
Tel: +44-020-86435133; Fax: +44-020-86438200
Email: bkk2006@hydropower-dams.com
Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning
For more information, please access website: www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2007/sustain07
CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAININGS
Advanced Training Course on Integrated Watershed Management (INWAMA)
http://inwama.uni-jena.de/index.php?id=4770&L=2
INWAMA is an interdisciplinary Asian-European partnership project, which offers advanced synergetic master’s level course in the field of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) to assist efforts directed alleviating poverty caused by water scarcity and improving livelihoods. INWAMA is offering an interdisciplinary coursework in the field of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM), combining the experience of international experts in a comprehensive course for postgraduate students. The course will focus on natural as well as social sciences, including systems analysis, modelling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), water law, water governance and data management.
Online Short Course: Service Oriented Management of Irrigation System
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/education/ilearning.htm
Service oriented management of irrigation systems is gaining ever-increasing attention globally due to greater emphasis on improving the performance of irrigation systems while making them ecologically and socio-economically sustainable. The key to achieve this largely lies in effective operation, maintenance and management of irrigation systems by adopting a user-centered and user-driven approach. Built-up on the same notion, this course has the objective to educate the participants about:
Ø Basic principles, significance, and concepts of Service Oriented Management of Irrigation Systems;
Ø Key activities and process