Experts identify key steps to strengthen knowledge on climate change and other water-related challenges
Colombo, Sri Lanka (July 6, 2017) – Sri Lanka has hosted a ground-breaking meeting to strengthen knowledge and support collective efforts on tackling climate change adaptation and other water-related challenges in the Indus Basin, home to more than 300 million people.
“Climate Change continues to have significant impact on our limited, shared water resources across the globe,” said the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake, Government of Sri Lanka. “The Indus Basin is one such key resource impacting on Afghanistan, China, India and Pakistan, and some 300 million people who live within the basin boundaries.”
Organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and held on July 4-5, the Forum brought together over a hundred researchers, government experts and development practitioners from the four countries sharing the Indus basin, with international experts and partner representatives.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the
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