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One of the major tasks of AGLW
consists of supporting FAO member nations in sustainable use of limited fresh
water resources.
This support becomes evident in the following activities:
Water development
for food security
In many countries, particularly in
Africa, the gap between local food consumption and production is growing.
Water development and particularly irrigation, from simple water harvesting to
modern piped irrigation, could make a major contribution to food security.
The primary objective of this set of
activities is to develop a strategy for irrigation expansion in order to
promote food security, focusing on Africa. In order to promote and facilitate
technology transfer concerning cost efficient irrigation, FAO:
- provides policy advice;
- assists in developing sector strategies
and investment plans;
- introduces efficient, low-cost
technologies;
- develops and supports innovative
approaches to resource mobilization and capacity building in planning and
management;
- initiates the reassessment of irrigation
potential in Africa;
- provides guidelines on valley-bottom
development;
- provides case studies and audio-visual
material on successful irrigation.
These activities will be undertaken in
co-operation with financing institutions, international and bilateral
agencies, NGOs and research centres.
Special Action
Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development
The overall objective of the Special
Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development (SAP-WASAD)
is to assist Member Nations to improve the management of their water resources
in order to achieve food security and sustainable agricultural development.
While providing a general framework for FAO's water programme, the SAP
provides:
- FAO's response to Agenda 21 in
relation to water resource management;
- assistance to Member Nations for the
formulation and implementation of national action plans on water and
sustainable agricultural development;
- a multi-disciplinary approach to the
management of rural water within FAO and interagency coordination.
Technical
assistance
AGLW provides technical assitance on the
following topics:
- assessment of national irrigation
potential;
- contribution to global freshwater
assessment;
- introduction of efficient water-use
technologies;
- improvement of irrigation management
practices;
- reorganization of irrigation
institutions;
- water quality and pollution control.
AGLW provides technical assistance with the
implementation of several field projects. Examples of such field projects are:
Capacity building
AGLW organises regularly workshops and
seminars and supports national and international knowledge networks with an
accent on the following topics:
- training in monitoring rural water use;
- training
courses on efficient water use
(with WMO);
- training on the use of GIS
in water resources;
- development and dissemination of training
material for irrigation technicians;
- regional seminars on water policy review
and reform;
- seminars on computer applications with
regard to irrigation management and planning (SIMIS
and CROPWAT)
- seminars on experiences with irrigation
turnover;
- seminars on management of international
rivers;
- workshops to review case studies on river
basin development in Africa;
- support of a network for updating and
refining information on water resources on a continuous basis;
- support of thematic networks on
irrigation extension and water harvesting;
- support of a network of irrigation
professionals, with the Association Francaise pour l'Etude de
l'Irrigation et du Drainage (AFEID);
- support of national and regional
organizations (e.g. COMESSA) in the assessment of water resources and
river basin planning.
- expert consultations on control of
agricultural pollution.
Knowledge and
information management
AGLW maintains question and answer
services with regard to:
|
Agriculture
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