IWMI : Water Policy Briefs

29	Creating healthy working rivers: the wisdom of environmental flows Authors : Writer: SCRIPTORIA (www.scriptoria.co.uk); Editors: Vladimir Smakhtin and Sharni Jayawardena; Date Published : 2007 -- Download PDF [484 KB] Editorial As demand for water grows, pressure to develop river water resources also grows. At the same time, enough water needs to remain in rivers to keep them in good ecological health. This is the aim of maintaining environmental f lows. But how do we work out how much water a river requires to meet environmental needs, and when does it need that water? So far, most environmental f low assessments have been done in developed countries where river f low data is good and there's plenty of expertise. A new approach, aimed at meeting the need for environmental river f lows in India, promises to help developing countries assess the environmental water requirements of their rivers using existing data and current knowledge.

28	Pro-poor Intervention Strategies in Irrigated Agriculture: Lessons from the Asian Experience Authors : Writer: Arindam Mukherji; Editors: Samyuktha Varma and Sharni Jayawardena; Date Published : May 2007 -- Download PDF [301 KB] Editorial Asian agricultural economies have experienced significant upswings in productivity since the Green Revolution in the 1960s. As widely acknowledged, the Green Revolution was made possible through coordinated infusions of vital inputs into the agricultural systems of the region. Irrigation through major and medium canal systems was one of the most crucial inputs to the Green Revolution1. Three decades down the line, the Asian economies benefiting from the Revolution have made famines history. However, after the euphoria over this significant achievement subsided, a major gap was identified-irrigation projects have failed to make the desired difference in the lives of its poor, subsistence and marginal farmers.

27	Rethinking Tribal Development: Water Management Strategies for Revitalizing Tribal Agriculture in central India Authors : Writer: Shilp Verma; Editors: Deborah Bossio and Sharni Jayawardena; Date Published : May 2007 -- Download PDF [313 KB] Editorial About 8 percent of the Indian population belongs to a category listed as "Scheduled Tribes" enumerated in the Schedule to Article 342 of the Constitution of India. Tribal people have been seen to be strongly associated with the forests, hills and remote areas, practising a unique life style, having a unique set of cultural and religious beliefs. Central Indian tribal homelands, comprising roughly 100 districts and running across the belly of the country [Fig. 1], are home to roughly 55 million tribal people, more than 70 percent of India's tribal population. Notwithstanding the rich vegetation and good rainfall, this belt is home to one of the largest concentrations of rural poverty in the world. For millennia, tribal communities have lived in forests and survived on hunting and gathering.

26	Recognizing informal irrigation in West Africa Authors : Writers: Pay Drechsel and Samyuktha Varma Editor: Samyuktha Varma; Date Published : Mar 2007 -- Download PDF [230 KB] Editorial Informal irrigation, irrigation that is practiced by farmers without the reliance on planned, constructed irrigation infrastructure, is fairly widespread, not only in urban and peri-urban areas, but throughout Africa. Table 1 gives an overview about common systems in the West African subregion. The informal practice has largely arisen due to the freedom of individuals or groups to react to market demand or their own needs, and their ability to maintain their own systems, while the planning and operation of 'formal' irrigation infrastructure is hampered by a large variety of constrain

25	Does Food Trade Save Water? The potential role of food trade in water scarcity mitigation Authors : Writer: Premila Canagaratna; Editors: Charlotte de Fraiture and Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Jan 2007 -- Download PDF [732 KB] Editorial By the year 2050 there will be an additional 3 billion people to feed. Food production may need to increase by 70-90 percent from levels in 2000 to meet this global food demand. Without improvements in the efficiency and productivity of agricultural water use, crop water consumption would have to grow by the same order of magnitude. A big challenge in water management is to grow sufficient food for a growing and more affluent population while meeting the many other demands on limited water resources-household needs, industrial requirements and environmental functions. Already, an estimated 20% of the global population lives in river basins that are characterized by physical

24	IWRM Challenges in Developing Countries: Lessons from India and elsewhere Authors : Writer: Shilp Verma; Editor: Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Jan 2007 -- Download PDF [562 KB] Editorial Converting a philosophy into practice is a challenge. Recent IWRM experiences in developing countries present a case in point. At the operational level, they take a rather narrow view of the concept and have largely tended to be introduced as a blueprint package. The key to successful IWRM implementation is integration of the local resources and in the local context.

23	Promoting micro-irrigation technologies that reduce poverty Authors : Samyuktha Varma, Shilp Verma and Regassa E. Namara; Editors: Deborah Bossio and Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Nov 2006 -- Download PDF [231 KB] Editorial Micro-irrigation technologies are increasingly seen as a means of addressing the growing competition for scarce water resources. Appropriate low-cost drip systems have shown to have positive effects on yield, incomes, and food security. With the right institutional support, these systems can help poor farmers improve water productivity and incomes.

22	Water governance in the Mekong region: the need for more informed policy-making Authors : Writer: Dr. S.E. Williams and Dr. J.C. Weale, SCRIPTORIA (www.scriptoria.co.uk); Editor: Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Nov 2006 -- Download PDF [264 KB] Editorial Recurring water crises, global water initiatives, and demands for water reforms by development banks, have all pushed water up the agenda of most Mekong-region countries. Many changes have already been made. Now decision makers need to know what has worked, what hasn't, and why. To find out, IWMI has reviewed new water policies, plans and laws, and assessed participation, the new water 'apex bodies', and integrated water resources management (IWRM).

21	Working Wetlands: a new approach to balancing agricultural development with environmental protection Authors : Contributors to content: Rebecca Tharme, Max Finlayson and Matthew McCartney Writer: Sandy Williams; Editor: Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Sep 2006 -- Download PDF [389 KB] Editorial The trade-off between environmental protection and development is most acute in dynamic and complex ecosystems such as wetlands. Wetlands 'work' for society. They maintain environmental quality, sustain livelihoods and support biodiversity. However, socio-economic pressures mean that we are now pushing wetlands to work even harder, for example, by producing more crops or grazing more cattle. History shows that 'over-working' wetlands can cause them to change significantly often with negative effects on the communities or even civilizations that depend on them.

20	Improving performance and financial viability of irrigation systems in India and China Writers: Niresh Eliyathamby and Samyuktha Varma; Editor: Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Apr 2006 -- Download PDF [302 KB] Editorial China and India face similar challenges in managing their irrigation economies. Both are developing nations with large agricultural populations, high population densities and a high proportion of agriculture under irrigation. Both are facing challenges in financing existing irrigation systems in the face of broader economic reforms. And in both countries, groundwater provides a particular challenge since it is a major source of irrigation, but with accelerating declines in both quantity and quality.

19	Choosing Appropriate Responses to Groundwater Depletion Authors : Writer: Premila Canagaratna; Editor: Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Apr 2006 -- Download PDF [413 KB] Editorial Heavy use of groundwater leading to steady declines in water tables is a problem increasingly witnessed in many parts of the world. In an attempt to reverse this trend, water policy experts and resource managers often advocate improving irrigation efficiency, an apparent solution that is also seen as being politically palatable. Such approaches, however, are not always effective. A holistic study of a hydrologic system is needed to find out how best to deal with groundwater depletion what the optimal solutions are.

18	Pro-poor Intervention Strategies in Irrigated Agriculture: Lessons from the Asian Experience Authors : Writers: Sandy Williams and Sarah Carriger Date Published : Feb 2006 -- Download PDF [428 KB] Editorial Poor people need and use water for a wide range of essential activities, including earning much-needed incomes. Deliberately making provisions for these multiple uses of water when designing and managing water-supply and irrigation schemes could greatly reduce poverty, increase gender equity, and improve health at little additional cost.

17	Recycling Realities: Managing health risks to make wastewater an asset Authors : Editor: Sharni Jayawardena; Writers: Dr. Pay Drechsel, Dr. Liqa Raschid-Sally (www.iwmi.org), Dr. Sandy Williams and Dr. Jim Weale (www.scriptoria.co.uk) Date Published : Feb 2006 -- Download PDF [319 KB] Editorial Irrigation with polluted water or wastewater is a widespread reality, especially in low-income countries where it is popularly used for vegetable cultivation. Yet many policymakers are unaware of the significance of the practice and the benefits it can bring. Nor do they know that practical recommendations are now available to make wastewater use safer and more sustainable without relying on non-affordable treatment technologies alone.

16	Breaking the Cycles of Land Degradation: A case study from Ban Lak Sip, Laos Authors : Editor: Sharni Jayawardena; Writers: Dr Sandy Williams & Dr Jim Weale Date Published : Dec 2005 -- Download PDF [337 KB] English Spanish Editorial Around the world, intensive farming in fragile environments is taking its toll on natural resources. This has led to greater awareness of the need to use agricultural land sustainably to maximize yields without compromising the health and productivity of the soil. Laos' current rural-development and land-use policies were influenced in part by exactly such an environmental agenda. However, a recent study has shown that land degradation has actually increased in the village of Ban Lak Sip since these policies were put in place.

15	Environment Flows Planning for Environmental Water Allocation Authors : Writers: Sandy Williams and Dr Jim Weale (http://www.scriptoria.co.uk); Editors: Vladimir Smakhtin and Sharni Jayawardena Date Published : Oct 2005 -- Download PDF [369 KB] Spanish Editorial New research shows that, in many parts of the world, not enough water is being left in rivers to sustain the valuable environmental services that they provide to society. This is jeopardizing species that depend on fresh water-as well as the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, and downstream communities and water users. Tools have now been developed to help planners establish the water needs of specific environments, even when little data is available. But policymakers need to recognize the urgent need to allocate water to satisfy environmental demands.

14	Planning Groundwater Use for Sustainable Rural Development Authors : Writer: Sandy Williams; Sub-editor: Nicola Perera Date Published : Sep 2005 -- Download PDF [225 KB] Editorial Irrigated agriculture has contributed greatly to food security in Asia and irrigation projects present new opportunities for reducing poverty. This requires that projects deliberately tilt towards the poor. Moreover, policymakers, implementers and managers need to adopt an integrated approach when using irrigation as a pro-poor intervention strategy. With the right institutional and technical conditions, an effective incentives structure and proper implementation and management practices, pro-poor irrigation projects can make a significant difference to poverty in the region.

13	Reducing Poverty through intergrated management of groundwater and surface water Authors : Editor/Writer: Sarah Carriger; Sub-editing: Kingsley Kurukulasuriya Date Published : Feb 2005 -- Download PDF [365 KB] Spanish Editorial By considering groundwater availability and quality when allocating surface water for irrigation, water managers could improve the equity, sustainability and productivity of irrigated systems.The prevailing situation where there is separate management of groundwater and surface water has contributed to land salinization in areas with poor quality groundwater and to low agricultural productivity and high vulnerability for farmers in the tail ends of systems.

12	Integrating fisheries into irrigation planning and management Authors : Editor/Writer: Sarah Carriger; Sub-editing: Kingsley Kurukulasuriya Date Published : Jan 2005 -- Download PDF [248 KB] Spanish Editorial Fisheries, the harvesting of wild fish and other aquatic animals, often play a valuable role in livelihood strategies that is not readily replaced by the development of irrigated agriculture. Despite this, the impacts of irrigation development and management on fisheries are seldom considered. Viewing fisheries and irrigation within an integrated and participatory management framework ensures that livelihoods and food security are enhanced rather than hurt by irrigation development. And it provides an opportunity to increase the overall productivity of irrigation systems-at little additional cost.

11	Irrigation management transfer:How to make it work for Africa's smallholders? Authors : Editor: Sarah Carriger; Writer: Sandy Williams, Scriptoria; Editorial support: Harshana Rambukwella Date Published : Dec 2003 -- Download PDF [977 KB] Editorial For Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) to be successful in Africa, governments must first enhance the income-creation potential of smallholder irrigated farming by strengthening market access, promoting high-value crops and improving extension and technical support.

10	The Energy-Irrigation Nexus Authors : Editor: Sarah Carriger; Writer: Sandy Williams(Scriptoria); Sub-editing: Harshana Rambukwella Date Published : Nov 2003 -- Download PDF [875 KB] Editorial A rational flat-rate tariff, combined with restrictions on power supply, could be a powerful tool for the indirect management of both groundwater and energy use if the two sectors can work together.

09	Confronting the realities of wastewater use in agriculture Authors : Editor: Sarah Carriger; Writer: Sandy Williams, Scriptoria; Editorial support: Kingsley Kurukulasuriya Date Published : Aug 2003 -- Download PDF [172 KB] Editorial The prevailing "scientific" approach to wastewater irrigation advocates treatment before use, and the implementation of strict regulations. Many developing countries cannot afford to build treatment facilities, and do not have the resources to enforce regulations. There are other options, as IWMI research in Mexico and Pakistan demonstrates.

08	Improving water productivity: How do we get more crop per drop? Date Published : Mar 2003 -- Download PDF [482 KB] Editorial Agriculture consumes 70% of the world's developed freshwater supplies. By improving the productivity of water used for agriculture, it is possible to reduce the amount of additional water withdrawals needed to feed the world's growing population. What steps can policy makers take now? And where should we invest in research for the future?

07	Rethinking Tank Rehabilitation Date Published : Apr 2003 -- Download PDF [175 KB] Editorial Before renovating an old irrigation tank, take a closer look. You will see that in its current state of disrepair, it provides a valuable set of services to the community, which extend beyond irrigation. The only successful tank rehabilitation strategy is one that looks at all the current socio-ecological activities and their values. Not just irrigation.

06	Addressing the needs of poor farmers Date Published : Jan 2003 -- Download PDF [192 KB] Editorial Research has revealed that many irrigation management transfer programs have aggravated rather than reduced rural poverty. Policy makers need to ensure poor farmers participate equally in the decision-making process if community managed irrigation programs are to address this failure.

05	Building high-performance knowledge institutions Date Published : Jan 2003 -- Download PDF [305 KB] Editorial Recent research has identified traits that set high performance knowledge institutions apart from those that fail to deliver. By applying these concepts to failing organizations we can create world class institutions for research, policy formation and development

04	The socio-ecology of groundwater Date Published : Jun 2002 -- Download PDF [1094 KB] Editorial Groundwater irrigation has surpassed surface irrigation as the primary source of food production and income generation in many rural areas. The key question for policy makers and planners is how to tap this resource without exhausting the supply.

03	The Challenges of Integrated River Basin Management Date Published : Jun 2002 -- Download PDF [223 KB] Editorial The idea of transferring 'ready-made' Integrated River Basin Management solutions from Australia, North America and Europe to developing countries holds great appeal. A review of actual experience, however, suggests effective solutions need to be tailored to fit the realities of developing world basins.

02	Wells and welfare Date Published : Mar 2002 -- Download PDF [272 KB] Editorial Giving the poor better access to groundwater irrigation: Sustainable approaches and options for the developing world. What can developing countries learn from tube well programs in India?

01	Innovations in groundwater recharge Date Published : Jan 2002 -- Download PDF [1048 KB] Editorial The operation of large canal irrigation systems can be modified to recharge groundwater on a vast scale, reducing the need for new dams and other storage structures.