WATER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : ICID EFFORTS

K.N. Sharma*
B.S. Rajvanshi**

1. The ICID:

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) is established as a Scientific and Technical Professional and Voluntary, Not-for profit Organisation (NGO) dedicated to improve Land and Water Management the 1enhance the worldwide supply of food and fibre for the people, and the productivity of irrigated and drained lands through appropriate management of water environment and the application of irrigation, drainage and flood control techniques. The mission is to stimulate and promote the development of the arts, sciences and techniques of engineering, agriculture, economics, ecology and social sciences in managing water, land, resources for irrigation, drainage, flood control and river training applications including research and development, capacity building, adopting comprehensive approaches and upto date techniques for sustainable agriculture in the world. Currently ICID has its National Committees in 88 countries. In pursuit of its objectives which cover planning, financing, socio-economic and environmental aspects, international inputs required for developing countries, promoting gender equality and preservation of soil and water quality of irrigated land.

2. INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION:- The Commission is one of the founder members of the Union of International Technical Associations (UITA) set up in October 1950. The commission has been granted Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in April 1954 thereby enabling the council to secure expert information or advice from the commission in the field of its special competence and also enabling the commission to be represented at the meetings of the Council or its subsidiary bodies and to submit written statements, undertake special studies and prepare paper and be heard by the Council in the field of its interest. ICID has been granted Special consultative Status by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in November 1955 thereby enabling it to be represented at FAO's appropriate technical and expert meetings, and submit written statements on programs and matters within ICID's specialized competence.

The Commission is fully cooperating in its specialized field with various competent services and programs of FAO. FAO has a permanent observer status in Commission's International Executive Council.

ICID has Consultative Status with the World Meteorological Organization since 1960. The Commission also sends its representatives to meetings of the coordinating council of the International Hydrological Programme. The Commission has also been registered as a Category 'A liaison member of ISO/TC 113,ISO/T23/SC 18 and ISO/TC 190. Further, it cooperates with all other international organizations whose activities are in harmony with its

objects, including UNO, UNESCO, FAO, WFC, WMO, World Bank and Regional Banks, UNDP,

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* Joint Secretary,ICID, Central Office, New Delhi, India

** Officer on Special Duty,ICID, Central Office, New Delhi, India

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UNDRO, UNEP, WHO, ESCAP, ECE, ECLA, COWAR, CIGR, PIANC, UITA, IWRA, IWSA,

ICOLD, IAHR, ILO, IDRC, ICARDA and IIMI. The commission received Peace Messenger Award from the Secretary-General, United Nations in 1987, for its significant contribution to the programs of Peace.

UNESCO is a permanent observer in the commission's IEC, while UNDRO and WMO are represented in ICID's technical work bodies. ICID, World Bank and UNDP have jointly sponsored the International Programme for Technology Research in Irrigation and in the developing countries. Now it has been approved as an associate programme of the GLOBAL Water Partnership (GWP).

ICID is a member of Global Water Partnership (GWP). GWP has been promoted by the World Bank, the UNDP and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) for providing support to the water related developments in the developing countries. ICID is a founder member and a member on the Governing Body of World Water Council (WWC), which is styled as an International Water Policy. The World Bank is permanent observer in ICID's IEC and is also currently represented in seven world bodies of ICID.

ICID holds the Secretariat of the International Water related Associations Liaison Committee (IWALC). IWALC was set up to promote inter-action amongst the associations dealing with the various aspects of water to stimulate integrated approach in areas where combined involvement of different specializations is found to be necessary.

3. Conference:

In reference of its objectives the ICID has already held 16 triennial congresses at various locations in the world. It has so far deliberated of 47 questions on the water and land management related aspects. One of its most recent notable publications has also been a multi-lingual dictionary of technical terms. A checklist for Environmental Impact assessment (EI) has also evolved. ICID publishes an annual bibliography of references in the field of irrigation, drainage, flood control environment and allied subjects and two issues of its technical journal, peer reviewed journal every year. A newsletter is published quarterly with another bulletin 'News Update', every month.

Because of the worldwide realization that management of agriculture water is getting more and more critical and complex in many parts of the world, it has made efforts for broadening and strengthening its international partnership and involved in the management of international basins such as Nile and the Aral Sea. It has established regional focus groups for Europe, Africa and Asia.

The ICID's 15th congress at the Hague in 1993 on "Water Management in the Next Century" brought out its policy declaration - "The Hague declaration" (Annexure 1). This Congress was held after the Rio-Earth Summit in June 1992, and the theme was particularly relevant to the objectives of Agenda-21. Taking a cue from its chapter 18, the ICID launched its water saving programme in agriculture to adopt appropriate water management and simultaneously constituted an ICID WATSAVE work team comprising members from China, India, Pakistan Egypt, Morocco and Mexico. This programme is defined as ICID's Global Water Conservation Action Plan. The team then put together the information from few countries culminating into a

publication (1995) titled "Watsave Activities - Some Lessons and Experiences" , which has been very well received worldwide. The 16^th ICID Congress at Cairo in 1996 drew 900 participants from 64 countries and focussed on the theme of "Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture," stressed the need of "Harvesting Water To Feed a Hungry World" and attain food security commensurate with the Land and Water Resources, and evolving New Approaches in Water Developing vis-a-vis the technical considerations, economic considerations and the environmental considerations and social aspects. A workshop on "Water saving - Prospects and Challenges" of great relevance to the world in general and to many countries of the mediterranean region in particular was also held. A statement called 'ICID - Cairo Statement' was issued in Sept. 1996 (Annexure 2) which called upon the development of comprehensive information systems, decentralisation in Planning and Management with involvement of concerned community, promoting role of women of the farming communities, increase in effective irrigation area coupled with timely rehabilitation and modernization of the irrigation and drainage system & reclamation of water logged/salinised irrigated lands and opening of new lands with an eye on the water management. Integerated development and management of surface and ground water through basin wide institutions was stressed.

To further sharpen the focus, another more comprehensive questionnaire to ascertain the status of water use, supplies, irrigation practices, policies for control on water and prevention of pollution etc was sent to 66 ICID member countries. The status has been depicted by 24 responding countries who amongst themselves irrigate more than 70% of the total irrigated area of the world. Individually, the Africa is represented by countries irrigating 40% continents irrigated area, Europe by 51%, Asia by 92%, North-Central America 66% and Oceania is represented by 87%. The deficiency and bottlenecks being faced in countries have been identified by the countries. This compilation is being finalised and is likely to be published soon to highlight the regional aspects or country-wise approaches. Encouraged by the responses and the scenario that emerges from these evaluations, ICID further proposes to help the countries of the world by organising roving Watsave seminars and regional workshops from the year 1998 to identify issues in the countries/regions and assist groups of countries in addressing the issues mainly in developing countries. These findings at seminars/workshops are to be placed in an International Conference slated sometime in the year 2000 for long-time directions on the generic issues. This Conference will invite around 150 experts from around 50 countries having various specialities including economists, sociologists, environmentalists and R&D groups.

4. Regional Programmes:

- The ICID has been constantly striving through annual meetings and triennial irrigation congresses, to address various issues vital to the development and improvement of irrigation management in all member countries. In addition, new initiatives are also launched from time to time to address water management issues of global and/or regional concern. A few current initiatives include programmes like IPTRID, programme on issues like holding of UNESCO/UATI supported Seminars/Workshop on Water Related disasters and flood forecasting at Hanoi and Dhaka, development of Irrigation and Drainage in Africa, land

and water management in International River Basins, setting up Young irrigation Professionals fora in various member countries and Global Water Conservation action plan. Besides, these, ICID has been actively participating in International efforts at finding solutions to the complex issues of land and water management in Aral Sea Basin. It will thus be observed that the work of ICID is of great importance for the nations in the developing world particularly from Africa and Asia.

ICID has identified 'Africa' as a potential area for promoting sustainable agriculture and would like to work towards accelerated development of irrigation in this continent besides promoting basin-wise cooperation in water development. It has taken already the initiative of promoting Inter-Basin cooperation among Nile Basin countries, and has been assisting in organising a series of ten annual conferences known as 'Nile 2002' conferences, starting from 1993 & ending in 2002.

ICID has established in 1994 'Africa Focus Group' for approaching important issues concerning irrigation and drainage in the continent. Two other regional groups established by ICID are Asia regions focus group in 1996 and European Focus group in 1995. An 'ICID Action Programme' for Africa has been formulated for implementation within prescribed time frame. The ICID 'Action Plan' seeks into strengthen ICID's National Committees in Africa, provide for networking for the dissemination of information and improve database as well as to evolve appropriate technologies for irrigation and drainage development. Organisation of seminars, workshops and case studies etc. are some other activities under this programme. The ICID has been getting cooperation of FAO actively assisting the formulation of these programs, participating and offering expert support and guidance. ICID believes that its National Committees particularly from Africa need to work vigorously to cover up the handicaps. Efforts are being made to strengthen their operational scenario which faces the following main bottlenecks.

* Inadequacy of data base.

* Non-existence of National Irrigation or water policies.

* Lack of local technical expertise.

* High cost of irrigation.

* Environmental and health issues.

* Poor planning and design of irrigation and drainage projects.

These constraints have to be overcome by evolving appropriate technology for accelerating the pace of development of irrigation in Africa in accordance with ICID's 'The Hague Declaration'.

5. Special programmes:- The existing policies regarding water sector and the extent these can be sharpened are proposed to be studied and discussed in various regions, particularly the developing countries. The ICID is alive to the fact of water getting scarce coupled with its finite availability. It, therefore has, the following special programmes on the anvil.

* Capacity building of Women farmers in irrigated agriculture management in developing countries in Asia/Africa.

* Regional Seminars on National Policies for irrigation development in the developing countries of Africa.

* Workshops on prevention and control of water logging and salinity.

* Regional/Country Workshops on adoption of ICID-Environmental checklist.

* Workshops on remedial measures for Aral Sea problems.

* Workshop on large scale irrigation and small scale irrigation to be held in Nigeria (Africa).

The workshops are to be organised by ICID by inviting experts from

specialised agencies like FAO & World Bank so that their experiences can

be drawn upon to help the efforts.

It has been a happy feature to note that the FAO, in order to strengthen cooperation with NGO's, perceives the International Commission and Drainage as an active partner of its Land Water Division. The ICID Central Office is actively playing its role in assisting the National Committees to plan and organise a few programmes promoting sustainable development of water resources and agricultural development and tackling issues of international concern in irrigation, drainage and flood management. Under this initiative, two international seminars in the area of flood management were successfully held. About 50 experts from the concerned Asian countries and European specialised organisations and UATI participated in each.

(i) International Seminar on "Flood and Water Related Disasters" on 27 & 28 November 1997 at Hanoi, Vietnam.

(ii) International Seminar on "Evolution of a scientific system of flood forecasting and warning for Ganga-Brahamputra-Meghna basins, Dhaka, Bangladesh" on 05 and 06 December 1997.

ICID has taken yet another initiative on the Eastern Rivers of India which affect India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Bhutan.

The ICID, undaunted by the limitation of funds as an NGO gratefully acknowledges funding support accorded by UNESCO, World Bank, UATI, USSBR, CIDA and others, & assure the world community continue to play its vital role of improving the policies, management and approaches to sustainable water conservation throughout the world to achieve sustainable irrigated agriculture.

TEXT OF ANNEXURE I

THE HAGUE ICID DECLARATION

11 September 1993

World population is expected to exceed six billion by the end of the century with 90 per cent living in developing countries.; Based on current trends, population growth may exceed increases in food production.

During the past four decades, irrigation and drainage have contributed significantly to increase in food production. Today, a meager one-sixth of cropped lands that is irrigated produces one-third of the world's harvest of food crops. drainage has enhanced the productivity of another tenth of cropped lands. These contributions are not without costs. Irrigated agriculture consumes 70 to 80 per cent of the fresh water quality. The performance of many irrigation schemes is below their potential levels. Globally, about two-fifths (100 million hectares) of irrigated lands are at risk from waterlogging or salinization, or are already affected. Future growth in irrigated agriculture will be limited by the scarcity of water and land, by increasing competition for water, by the degradation of the environment, by the rising cost of development, by the deterioration of existing systems, and, finally, by the inadequacies of management.

Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource having an economic value with social, economic and environmental implications. The Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, June 1992) set formidable challenges for the development of water resources and agricultural production. AGENDA 21 of the Earth Summit sets the targets for increasing sustainable crop production at 3 to 4 % per annum including the increase in productivity of existing irrigation schemes. These targets will ensure that future degradation of land and water resources is avoided or even reversed.

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) has a half century of experience in the promotion and transfer of water management technology and in the handling of related issues. Building on its past experience, accomplishments, and the comprehensive water management framework, about 750 participants from 65 countries, meeting in the Hague from the 6th to 11th of September,1993, at the 15th ICID congress, addressed the theme of "Water Management in the Next Century".

Actions resulting form these discussions are:

1. ICID will promote new programmes for water savings in agriculture to enable the release of water for other emerging high priority uses.

2. ICID will encourage irrigation and drainage agencies to optimize the use of ;resources and adopt holistic and multi-disciplinary approaches to the planning of irrigation and drainage systems which, in large

measure, are the keys to attaining sustainable schemes.

3. ICID will promote programs to enhance the productivity of water at both the farm and system levels, and to ensure equity in th distribution of irrigation water, the sustainability of development and the protection of the environment.

4. ICID will launch public awareness and participation programs in association with other agencies on the annual World Water Day, 22nd of March, as established by the United Nations.

5. Irrigation and drainage agencies will be encouraged to increase participation of farmer organizations in the operation, maintenance and management of irrigation and drainage systems.

6. ICID will promote international cooperation in the management of international river basins.

7. ICID will promote special programs in irrigation, drainage, and water management in Africa and other water-stressed areas.

8 ICID will develop area-oriented plans for the management of droughts and floods.

9. ICID and its national committees will broaden their memberships and develop young professionals from whom future leaders will emerge.

10. Programs will be undertaken to exchange appropriate technology among national committees, planners, designers and managers of irrigation systems.

ICID's Action Plan will have APPROPRIATE WATER MANAGEMENT as its central theme. It will be implemented in close cooperation with other international agencies. National committees will develop their own action agendas in support of this central theme, focusing on water saving and improving the performance of irrigation and drainage schemes, while, at the same time, ensuring increases in food production. This sets ICID on a new challenging path for water management in the 21st century.

TEXT OF ANNEXURE 2

ICID-CAIRO STATEMENT

22nd September 1996

The International Congress on Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture held in Cairo with 900 participants from 64 countries of the world noted the important role that will have to be played by irrigated agriculture for feeding the increasing number of people on this globe. the challenge is that increase in food production and rural wealth will have to take place under conditions of less water and less public funds available for irrigation and drainage works. Food security which is also closely linked with water security will have to be achieved under conditions of natural variability in supply and climate change.

The environmental, technical, financial, economic and social aspects of sustainability of irrigation and drainage systems will require closer attention and continuous monitoring. For this purpose comprehensive information systems will have to be developed for all concerned areas.

Decentralization in planning and management with involvement of the concerned communities will need to be promoted together with sound practices for cost recovery and good management by irrigation agencies. Agricultural productivity per unit of water will have to be progressively increased in order to be able to compete with other higher value uses of water.

The important role of women of the farming communities in the developing countries will have to be properly recognized and special programs for enhancing their skills in land and water management and for participation in the operation of the irrigation and drainage systems will have to be pursued.

Increases in the effective irrigation area will have to be achieved through timely rehabilitation and modernization of the irrigation and drainage systems, reclamation of waterlogged or salinised irrigated lands and by opening of new lands to irrigation and drainage services through low cost techniques. Simultaneously increased attention will also be necessary for the management of the upstream water sheds.

Plans for integrated development and management of surface and ground water resources will have to be implemented through basin-wide institutions for securing proper consensus on allocation of water and for

ensuring adequate share for meeting the requirements for irrigated agriculture.

Access of the poor farmers to productive resources like water will have to be improved through equity in distribution on water for alleviating rural poverty and for preserving the natural resource base.

Towards these goals ICID will develop its activities and promote throughout the world formulation of sound policies in the larger macroeconomic and sociological context.