Seventh International Seminar

The seventh international seminar on participatory irrigation management was held at the Hotel Sheraton, Tirana, Albania from June 13-18, 2004.  The seminar drew 93 International Participants from 27 countries in addition to 50 local Albanian participants.  The theme of the seminar was on "Creating an Enabling Environment for Productive and Sustainable Water User Associations".  In addition to the Keynote presentation, the seminar featured a special presentation on the role of farmer networks in irrigation and water resources management and a special session on Capacity Building.  Both these projects happen to be INPIM initiatives which have been started during the year 2004.  Participants were divided into five groups to do a problem analysis on issues relating to Implementing PIM.  a large number of country presentations were made by Albania, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Georgia, Japan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Madagascar, Philippines, Srilanka, Tanzania and Turkey.   Participants had an excellent opportunity to interact with the Albanian farmers during the one day field trip.

Albania initiated reforms in its irrigation sector in 1994 effectively promoting water user associations to undertake rehabilitation works under the first and second irrigation and rehabilitation projects.  The experience has been encouraging as it been able to bring in recognition amongst the farming community to take operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes through water user associations and their federations.  The third project on Water Resources Management in Albania takes the reforms yet to another level of promoting River Basin Councils and the integration of water Enterprises into Drainage boards, which not only undertake drainage management but also river conservation and flood protection. in its irrigation sector in 1994 effectively promoting water user associations to undertake rehabilitation works under the first and second irrigation and rehabilitation projects.  The expereince has been encouraging as it been able to bring in a recognition amongst the farming community to take operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes through water user assocaitons and thier federations.  The third project on Water Resources Management in Albania takes the reforms yet to another level of promoting river basin councils and the integration of water enterprises into Drainage boards, which not only undertake drainage management but also river conservation and flood protection.