Reducing Poverty through intergrated management of groundwater and surface water.
Citation:
International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Global Water Partnership (GWP) Advisory Center. 2005. Reducing poverty through integrated management of groundwater and surface water. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Global Water Partnership (GWP) Advisory Center at IWMI. 6p. [IWMI Water Policy Briefing 13]
Abstract
The full poverty-fighting potential of existing irrigation schemes is not being realized–largely because of inequitable water distribution and unsustainable land and water management practices. An integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach reveals opportunities to reduce poverty and improve overall agricultural productivity and sustainability in these systems. Research in India and Pakistan has highlighted one such opportunity–integrated management of surface water and groundwater–that has great potential for water-short systems with variable groundwater resources. By considering groundwater availability and quality when allocating surface water, water managers could improve the situation of millions of poor farmers with inadequate access to both surface water and groundwater and overall productivity in irrigated systems. The prevailing fragmented approach–where groundwater and surface water are managed separately–has contributed to high vulnerability and low agricultural productivity for farmers in the tail ends of canals and to land salinization in areas with poor quality groundwater.
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