Untreated wastewater irrigation is not the only reason for the spread of pathogens. IWMI, therefore, also invests in more holistic multiple-hazard projects that analyze and compare risks from various sources and assess the cost-effectiveness of taking different actions. Ultimately, the aim is to advise authorities on how they can best prevent most people from dying or becoming sick at the lowest cost.
Researchers at IWMI have been working on a variety of projects over more than a decade, which are aimed at assessing and reducing the risks associated with wastewater irrigation. They also explore social marketing tools to identify appropriate incentives that will trigger the behavioral changes needed to reduce the contamination of food produced with wastewater irrigation.
In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), IWMI has been testing a ‘multi-barrier approach’ to reducing the overall risk of pathogens in wastewater irrigation.2
Source: RR 141. Amoah et al., 2011. 3
The multi-barrier approach should be implemented with other health measures such as health education, hygiene promotion and the provision of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.4
1 http://assets.panda.org/downloads/worldwaterforumwaterfacts.pdf
2, 4 Bos, R.; Carr, R.; Keraita, Bernard. 2010. Assessing and mitigating wastewater-related health risks in low-income countries: An introduction. In Wastewater irrigation and health: Assessing and mitigating risk in low-income countries, ed. Drechsel, P.; Scott, C.A.; Raschid-Sally, L.; Redwood, M.; Bahri, A.. London, UK: Earthscan; Ottawa, Canada. International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), pp.29-47.
3 Amoah, Philip; Keraita, Bernard; Akple, Maxwell; Drechsel, Pay; Abaidoo, R. C.; Konradsen, F. 2011. Low-cost options for reducing consumer health risks from farm to fork where crops are irrigated with polluted water in West Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 37p. (IWMI Research Report 141)
source:www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/consumer/5keys/
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