Russell – while issues you raise may be true, like there is certainly a need for improved training in this sector, there are issues much larger than infrastructure and training needs. Was there any discussion in this conference on how social, political or agricultural systems have changed since the time the irrigation infrastructure was built? Instead of simply calling for an upgrade of irrigation infrastructure, we have to evaluate the changes in the systems for which the infrastructure was originally built. At least, it seems that the conference ignored that water control is not only technical, but in the past and still present, was achieved by controlling agricultural production and land ownership through the political system as well as the irrigation bureaucracy. Instead of simply promoting infrastructure upgrade and training of the irrigation bureaucracy we have to address the larger picture.
Russell – while issues you raise may be true, like there is certainly a need for improved training in this sector, there are issues much larger than infrastructure and training needs. Was there any discussion in this conference on how social, political or agricultural systems have changed since the time the irrigation infrastructure was built? Instead of simply calling for an upgrade of irrigation infrastructure, we have to evaluate the changes in the systems for which the infrastructure was originally built. At least, it seems that the conference ignored that water control is not only technical, but in the past and still present, was achieved by controlling agricultural production and land ownership through the political system as well as the irrigation bureaucracy. Instead of simply promoting infrastructure upgrade and training of the irrigation bureaucracy we have to address the larger picture.