Return to the Land and Water Newsletter home page
Irrigation scheme operation and maintenance is the tenth in the series of training manuals on irrigation prepared jointly with the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI). The manual presents some of the difficulties confronting irrigation organizations in undertaking their duties and provides some suggestions for resolving them. The paper then discusses the methods of operating an irrigation network and the working principles involved. Maintenance tasks are discussed using the maintenance of a motorcycle as a reference for the corresponding activities in an irrigation scheme. Finally, reference is made to the need for having an effective financial control whereby the management of the system has enough resources to undertake the operation and maintenance tasks. The manual is adressed to small- and medium-scale schemes and assumes that the management organization is already in place.
Irrigation Water Management Training Manual No. 10, ISBN 92 5 103876 7, US$ 10.00 can be purchased from the Sales and Distribution Group, FAO by email (publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's Interactive Publications Catalogue (http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
Vient de paraître: CRUES ET APPORTS - Un manuel pour
l'estimation des crues décennales et des apports annuels
pour les petits bassins versants non jaugés de l'Afrique
de l'Ouest. Bulletin FAO d'irrigation et de drainage No 54, 244
pages. ISBN 92 5 203874 4. Prix 26 $E.U. Renseignements et
commandes:
publications-sales@fao.org
ou par le catalogue interactif de publications de la FAO (http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm)
Ce manuel est le fruit d'une collaboration entre la FAO,
l'Orstom, le Laboratoire commun de
télédétection CEMAGREF-ENGREF et le CIEH. Il
s'adresse principalement aux hydrologues et ingénieurs
hydrauliciens de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et regroupe, en un seul
ouvrage, les méthodes d'estimation des débits de
bassins non jaugés les plus utilisées dans la
région. Un fichier actualisé des données de
débits de crues et d'apports annuels est
présenté avec le manuel. Il regroupe 414 petits
bassins versants et a permis d'actualiser les méthodes de
calcul présentées dans le manuel.
Le manuel présente également une section
décrivant les progrès récents dans le
domaine de la télédétection et des
systèmes d'information géographiques susceptibles
d'améliorer les méthodes d'estimation des crues et
apports dans les années à venir.
The Water Service is presently organizing a sub-regional workshop on irrigation, to be held in Harare from 14 to 17 April. The main subject, as stated in the Press Release below, is irrigation technology transfer in support of food security. The purpose of the workshop is to bring government officials, equipment manufacturers, traders, NGOs and farmers together to develop strategies on how to reduce the irrigation costs. For further information, contact Arumugam.Kandiah@fao.org
Irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa could be expanded through the use of low-cost water pumps and other irrigation equipment from Asia, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Removal of trade barriers or joint ventures between Asian and African manufacturers could help African farmers to produce more food in countries which are suffering from chronic malnutrition, FAO said in a study prepared for a sub-regional workshop on irrigation in Harare (14-17 April). The seminar will bring together government officials, irrigation equipment manufacturers, farmers and non-governmental organizations from Asia and Africa.
According to FAO, the proportion of irrigated land to total arable land in sub-Saharan-Africa is 4 percent, while it is 24 percent in Northern Africa, 37 percent in Asia and 15 percent in Latin America. Total irrigated land on the African continent is estimated at 12.2 million ha. Six African countries (Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan) account for nearly 75 percent of the total irrigated land in Africa.
"One of the major reasons for the low rate of irrigation in Africa is the fact that irrigation equipment is just too expensive for local farmers and not adapted to local conditions," said Arumugam Kandiah of FAO's Water Service. "Furthermore, equipment components are not compatible (matching) and spare parts are difficult to obtain."
A series of FAO missions to Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe found that locally manufactured and imported water pumps are three to ten times more expensive than in Asia. The same applies to sprinkler irrigation equipment, pipes and construction costs of small water control structures.
Most irrigation equipment in Africa is imported from Europe, Israel, USA and South Africa. In Kenya and Zimbabwe some equipment is manufactured locally, however, it is still expensive, probably because of the lack of competition, the small size of the market and irrational tax and tariff structure.
Many African countries realize the importance of water control in food production, according to FAO. "These countries believe that a major part of new irrigation should be small-scale to reduce the management problems of large scale irrigation, to make better use of local water resources and to meet the needs of farmers and rural households. Irrigation technology could be transferred from countries like India and China to Africa, for example treadle pumps as well as simplified drip irrigation equipment can be easily manufactured locally and sold at affordable prices", Kandiah said.
A Legenda do Mapa dos Solos do Mundo desenvolveu-se, desde a sua publicação em 1974, num sistema de referência de solos de maior aceitação a nivel mundial. Em vários países de língua oficial portuguesa, a Legenda é utilizada como principal sistema de classificação de solos. Em países com sistema de classificão próprio, a Legenda figura como importante documento de base para atividades educacionais, de investigação e de desenvolvimento, servindo também de ferramenta de comunicação para transferência internacional de experiências técnico-científicas.
Sentiu-se que, apesar de importância que a Legenda adquiriu nos países de língua portuguesa, o seu uso ainda estava demasiadamente restrito aos meios científicos. Isto devia-se em grande parte ao problema da língua, que dificulta um bom entendimento da terminologia e das definições empregues que, por vezes, são bastante complexas. Traduções indistintas de certos termos e difinições da Legenda têm causado polémica. Estes aspectos poderiam melhorar substancialmente com uma versão oficial da Legenda em português, aprovada por cientistas do solo representativos de vários países de língua oficial portuguesa.
A primeira versão preliminar da Legenda, na língua portuguesa, foi elaborada em 1989 pelo Dr. J. Van Wambeke (FAO-AGLS) com a colaboração do Sr. M.R. Marques e outros colegas do Departamento Terra e Água do Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agronómica (INIA) em Maputo. Esta tradução foi revista e adaptada à reimpressão de 1990 por cientistas do solo de Moçambique, com colegas do Brasil e Portugal. O documento produzido foi enviado para alguns institutos relevantes de todos os países de língua oficial portuguesa - infelizmente, por falta de contactos, com exceção de São Tomé e Príncipe - bem como para FAO e ISRIC. A partir das reações foi elaborada uma nova versão que foi submetida à discussão no seminário UHA Ciência do Solo nos Países de Língua Portuguesa: Falando a mesma LínguaDH (Maputo, 20-24 de maio de 1996). Uma grande parte desse seminário foi dedicada à correcção e aprovação da terminologia e dos capítulos que formam o corpo da Legenda. Subsequentemente foi acordada a metodologia para a conclusão dos restante capítulos, sob responsabilidade dos representantes moçambicanos. O documento resultante foi mais uma vez submetido à avaliação dos demais integrantes do grupo, via correio eletrónico, o que resultou nas últimas correcções, dando fruto à presente versão.
More information on the Portuguese version can be obtained
from:
Eng M.Z. Menete, Eng. A.H. Cambule and Eng. M. van den Berg
Universidade Eduardo Mondlane
Faculdade de Agronomia, Dept. Eng. Rural
Maputo
Mozambique
We take this opportunity to draw attention to the other language versions of the Revised Legend of the Soil Map of the World available from FAO: English (ISBN 92-5-103022-7, price 12 US$), French (ISBN 92-5-202622-3, price 12 US$) and Spanish (ISBN 92-5-303022-4, price 12 US$). They can be purchased from the Sales and Distribution Group, FAO by E-mail (publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Freddy.Nachtergaele@fao.org
The International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) has just published a reprint of the Revised Legend in English in pocket format (Technical Paper, ISRIC, Wageningen, 1997), which is very handy when describing and classifying soils in the field. The text has remained the same as the Revised Legend published in 1990, but the soil horizon designations have been brought in line with the Guidelines for Soil Profile Desciption, 3rd edition (FAO,1990).
The publication can be obtained from:
The Director, ISRIC,
PO Box 353,
6700 AJ Wageningen,
The Netherlands.
The effective and sustainable management of water for agriculture is becoming ever more important to satisfy future demands in food production. The efficiency of water use in agriculture is low; poor management and inadequate design are the main causes of high water losses which result in low yields, reduced irrigated areas and environmental problems. Irrigation scheduling is essential to conserve water, to improve irrigation performance and to achieve sustainability of irrigated agriculture. A substantial part of irrigation research has been devoted to the development of a range of tools and techniques in irrigation scheduling. Nevertheless, the application of these tools and techniques has been well behind expectations. The ICID/FAO Workshop on Irrigation Scheduling was organized specifically to identify the constraints on the application of available water-saving techniques and to identify solutions that will lead to improved irrigation management in practice.
Water Report No 8 : "Irrigation scheduling: from theory to practice", ISBN 92-5-103968-2, price US$38.00, contains the proceedings of this ICID/FAO Workshop. It can be purchased from the Sales and Distribution Group, FAO by E-mail (publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Martin.Smith@fao.org
FAO's AQUASTAT programme was initiated with the view of presenting a comprehensive picture of water resources and irrigation in developing countries. This report gives the results of a survey of the Near East region taken in 1995 and 1996. The survey relied mostly on country-based statistics and information contained in sector studies and master plans. A general summary presents a regional analysis of water resources and irrigation in the region, and 29 profiles describe the situation in each country in more detail.
Water Report No 9 : "Irrigation in the Near East Region in figures", ISBN 92-5-103969-0, price US$29.00, can be purchased from the Sales and Distribution Group, FAO by E-mail (publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Karen.Frenken@fao.org
The main results of the AQUASTAT survey for the Near East region (English) and for Africa (English / French) have been placed on the World Wide Web. They are available at the following URL: Http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agl/aglw/aquastat/aquastat.htm
In November 1996, FAO convened a regional Expert Consultation on modernization of irrigation schemes in Bangkok (Thailand) to explore the needs and opportunities for promoting modernization in a sustainable way in Asia's irrigated agriculture. The meeting clearly demonstrated that modernization of irrigation schemes is becoming a major issue in Asia due to growing water scarcity and competition from other sectors, increasing food demand, increasing labour costs (both farm and irrigation agency staff), the necessity to improve the economic and technical performance of irrigation in the light of increased yields, crop diversification, improved water use efficiency, economic return to water and environmental degradation.
A summary of the discussions and conclusions, including the definition adopted for modernization of irrigation schemes, is available on the World Wide Web, at the following URL:Http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agl/aglw/modernis.htm
More technical information can be obtained from Klaus.Siegert@fao.org
1. Land and Water Bulletin No 4 : "Irrigation potential in Africa - a basin approach" (English)
2. Land and Water Bulletin No 5 : "Land quality indicators and their use in sustainable agriculture and rural development" (English)
3. Comprehensive assessment of the freshwater resources of the world (English)
4. Land Vulnerability Assessment for food security in Asia using Agro-ecological zoning and land resources information systems (English)
5. Soil Bulletin 73: Agro-ecological zoning- Boletin de Suelos 73: Zonificacion agro-ecologica (English and Spanish)
Irrigation is viewed as a key factor in progress towards achieving food security in Africa. While nearly 40% of the worldDRs agricultural production comes from irrigated land, the figure for sub-Saharan Africa is only 10%. For most countries of the region, including some poorly endowed with water, only a small part of the available water is withdrawn for use, owing to the state of underdevelopment of water management infrastructure.
Assessment of irrigation potential is of prime importance for planning of sustainable food production in the continent. Considerable information on irrigation potential exists in the African countries, but because of the large numbers of international rivers the regional dimension of the African water resources requires an approach ensuring consistency both within the country and among countries within each river basin.
The present study combines a review of existing information on irrigation potential by country with an approach using a geographic information system to assess land and water availability for irrigation on the basis of river basins. The ever-present environmental issues related to water management highlight some of the major challenges to irrigation development on the continent.
The results of this study and the methodology developed in the report should be useful to researchers and planners at national and regional levels for work aiming at sustainable water resources development in Africa.
Land and Water Bulletin No 4 : "Irrigation potential in Africa - a basin approach", ISBN 92-5-103966-6, price US$26.00, can be purchased from the Sales and Marketing Group, FAO by E-mail ( publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Karen.Frenken@fao.org
In response to the widespread concern that land quality for agriculture is gradually deteriorating and that only sporadic data are available either on the status of land quality or to assist farmers and policy-makers in improving their management strategies, this publication suggests opportunities to make better use of natural resource information for sustainable agriculture. Land quality indicators (LQIs) provide a way to monitor and respond to changes in agro-ecosystems. The kinds of environmental, social and economic indicators needed are different at the farm, village, district an nationaal levels, and generic indicators have limited utility at the local level. The report also addresses the management and interpretation of daata and information to develop indicators, the testing and application of LQIs in countries and future woork needed in this field. The lQI initiative is a collaborative effort between FAO, the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Land and Water Bulletin No 5 : "Land quality indicators and their use in sustainable agriculture and rural development", ISBN 92-5-103975-5, price US$22.00, can be purchased from the Sales and Marketing Group, FAO by E-mail (publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Jose.Benites@fao.org
Return to the Table of Contents of the 12th issue of Land-and-water-l
Following various conferences organized by United Nations Secretariat or Specialized Agencies between 1977 and 1994 about the importance of water resources for sustainable economic and social development, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development expressed great concern that many countries are facing a severe water crisis. In order to better quantify and qualify this water crisis, it was decided to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the freshwater resources of the world. With the financial support of the Governments of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Canada, a number of scientists from different countries and different UN Agencies were consulted and invited to prepare background documents.
As a result, a document entitled "Comprehensive assessment of the freshwater resources of the world" has been recently published by the World Meteorological Organization on behalf of several agencies (UN, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, UNESCO, WMO, World Bank, WHO and UNIDO), with the sponsorship of the Stockholm Environment Institute.
The document deals with water issues and policy. It has three
main chapters:
- supply, availability nd use of the world's freshwater
resources
- water challenge: a 30-year outlook
- conclusions and policy options
To obtain a copy or more technical information, contact Wulf.Klohn@fao.org
Venue: 3-8 November 1997 at FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), Bangkok, Thailand.
This is the second meeting of this kind organized by FAO in Asia. The first one took place in 1991. It will be a meeting of technical experts with emphasis on orientation and training on field use of agro-ecological zones information and other land resources information in assessing land vulnerability for sustainable food production and food security in Asia. The workshop will bring together about 40 invited specialists, including decision makers, land resources management and information systems experts from 20 Asian countries. The workshop will review the status of LRIS development in the Asian region and discuss application of LRIS information in land vulnerability assessment using practical examples from Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines. It will work out proposals for future LRIS implementation in countries in the region in linkage with existing networks, such as the Asian Soil Conservation Network (ASOCON).
Relevant information can be found in the following
references:
1) AEZ in Asia, Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on
Agro-Ecological Zones Methodology and Applications,World Soil
Resources Report 75, FAO, Rome,1994.
2) Agro-Ecological Zoning Guidelines. FAO Soils Bulletin 73, Rome
1996. (See below)
Contact persons: Jacques.Antoine@fao.org and Frankjohn.Dent@field.fao.org
Soil Bulletin 73 : "Agro-ecological zoning - Guidelines", ISBN 92-5-103890-2, price US$10.00, can be purchased from the Sales and Marketing Group, FAO by E-mail ( publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue ( http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm). It is also available in Spanish.
Boletín de Suelos 73: "Zonificación agro-ecológica - Guía general", ISBN 92-5-303890-X , precio US$ 10.00, puede ser adquirido del Grupo de Ventas y Mercadeo, FAO, por correo electrónico ( publications-sales@fao.org) o a través de la línea inter-activa del Catálogo de Publicaciones de la FAO
( http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm). También está disponible en Inglés.
Contact: Jacques.Antoine@fao.org
1. Soil Fertility Initiative (English)
2. Water Report 10: Quality control of wastewater for irrigated agriculture (English)
3. Three Internet services for the irrigation world (English)
4. Drainage des Terres Irriguées (Français)
5.El Drenaje de las Tierras de Regadio (Español)
The IFDC (International Fertilizer Development Center) and the World Bank organized a workshop on the "Development of National Strategies for Soil Fertility Recapitalization in Sub-Saharan Africa" in Lome, Togo, 22-25 April 1997.
The Workshop's Secretary, Burkina Faso's General Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources Martin Bikienga said: "This workshop will inspire governments and farmers to meet the challenge of managing the soils with care to prevent their impoverishment. In the long run soil fertility recapitalization will receive high priority in the agricultural policies of our countries, and emphasis will be given to create the socio-economic environment conducive to such an effort". Funded by the Netherlands Environmental Trust Fund, the workshop attracted 120 delegates representing government and donor agencies, the private sector, farmer organizations, subregional institutions, and national and international research centres located in 22 sub-Saharan and six industrialized countries.
Results of the workshop included a consensus on the strategic role of soil fertility recapitalization as a basic condition for agricultural growth, rural development, and the protection of the environment in sub-Saharan Africa and a strategic framework for national action plans for soil fertility recapitalization. This workshop represents an outgrowth of the 1996 World Food Summit conducted by FAO, which called for a renewed global commitment to solve the problem of chronic food insecurity and urged governments and international institutions to strive to achieve lasting fertility improvements in tropical soils. A group of international institutions and the World Bank have joined forces to work with governments to develop and implement national action plans to reverse the trend of declining soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa within the framework of the Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI).
The synthesis included the consensus that the delegates reached concerning the main constraints to soil fertility improvement and possible solutions. Identified constraints revealed a shift from the almost exclusive attention to technical, agro-ecological factors limiting agricultural production to policy measures and socio-economic conditions that limit farmers access to resources and means of production.
Four building blocks should be included in all national action plans for soil fertility improvement. These building blocks include geographic characteristics, macro-economic data with linkages to soil fertility improvement, agricultural policies such as pricing and land tenure situation, agricultural constraints and possible solutions.
The Director of IFDC-Africa sees a clear message emanating from the workshop., "Technical and financial support is available within the framework of the SFI," Breman says, "Therefore, interested countries are encouraged to structure and express their demand by elaborating national action plans".
Mr Bikienga articulates well the interest of sub-Saharan countries in the Soil Fertility Initiative. "The SFI responds to a need created by the combination of soils that have a very low inherent fertility, inappropriate cropping practices, rural poverty and unfavourable climatic conditions. Through the SFI, donors, international institutions, and governments will be able to work with farmers to ensure food security, alleviate poverty, conserve the natural resources, and develop a production base for present and future generations." Issuing a challenge to other countries of the region, Mr Bikienga urges, "All countries in sub-Saharan Africa must believe in the SFI and mobilize their resources to avail themselves of this opportunity. They should apply themselves to developing national soil fertility management strategies to present to donors. These strategies should be aimed at the sustainability of efforts and investments involved and therefore be extended over a period of 20 years and beyond".
More information about this workshop and the Soil Fertility initiative can be obtained from Jan.Poulisse@fao.org
This document discusses the use of wastewater for irrigated crop production. It reviews wastewater standards and proposes an interim approach to be applied in areas using wastewater, which promotes safe production areas for crops such as vegetables.
The approach is to assess the quality of water actually used for irrigation against a known standard. It is proposed that the World Health Organization guidelines for wastewater treatment plant design be used as irrigation water standards in making this assessment. In view of the fact that the present level of water contamination in many countries already seriously exceeds the limits set in the guidelines, achieving the prescribed standards for vegetable production would be a major accomplishment towards improving helath conditions in these countries.
The document makes reference to procedures developed and studied in 1992 in an FAO project in Chile. Comments and suggestions for improvement of this approach for practical application in the field are invited and encouraged.
Water Report No 10: "Quality control of wastewater for irrigated crop production", ISBN 92-5-103994-1, price 10.00US$, can be purchased from the Sales and Marketing Group, FAO, by E-mail ( publications-sales@fao.org) or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue ( Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Fernando.Chanduvi@fao.org
The tremendous growth of the Internet, spreading all over the world, has opened up vast possibilities of fast and cost-effective ways of exchanging data and information over long distances. The Department of Rural Engineering of the University of Kassel has established three major services to assist the irrigation world in finding the information needed and to provide a worldwide platform for professional discussion and information exchange. The three services are:
(1.)"The WWW Virtual Library IRRIGATION",
(2.)"IRRISOFT - Database on IRRIGATION & HYDROLOGY Software"
and
(3.)"IRRIGATION-L" an e-mail discussion list.
(1.) The World Wide Web Virtual Library IRRIGATION
The Virtual Library Irrigation provides links and information to servers and sites holding knowledge relevant to irrigation and hydrology on the web. The on-line library includes information on discussion lists, news, listings of water experts, irrigation systems, statistics, hydraulic engineering, standards, management, hydraulic modelling, hydrology software, irrigation drainage, salinity, agronomy, drought management, soil water relationships and much more. It might serve as a starting point for professionals searching for irrigation related information. The URL of the Virtual Library IRRIGATION is: http://www.wiz.uni-kassel.de/kww/irrig_i.htm
(2.) IRRISOFT - WWW Database on IRRIGATION & HYDROLOGY Software
The user-friendly World Wide Web has revolutionized the handling of information and has created an ideal platform for the implementation of Internet databases. The IRRISOFT Database is a comprehensive list of software descriptions and links to the corresponding sites and persons holding additional information on the software described. In some cases download facilities have been included to facilitate the software retrieval. Links to other related servers and sources of information have been included. At the moment there are more than 100 programs with detailed program descriptions listed. The URL of IRRISOFT is:
http://www.wiz.uni-kassel.de/kww/irrisoft_i.htm
(3.) IRRIGATION-L (E-mail Discussion List)
IRRIGATION-L is a e-mail discussion list on all kinds of
topics related to irrigation. It allows a broad international
audience to participate in discussions and to exchange
information. It is not only intended to cover purely technical
aspects of irrigation like design, hydraulics, system layouts
etc. but it is also open for topics like irrigation management,
socio-cultural, political and economic questions which are
steadily gaining importance. All discussions are archived and
current discussions are added continuously. Results may be viewed
shortly after the posting has taken place. Powerful search
facilities have been implemented allowing to search the entire
IRRIGATION-L archives. Additional information on subscription and
all the archived mails are found on the IRRIGATION-L Home Page
under the URL:
http://www.wiz.uni-kassel.de/kww/irrigation-l_i.htm
For any questions concerning these three services please contact Thomas-M. Stein at the following E-mail adress: stein@wiz.uni-kassel.de
Drainage des terres irriguées est la neuvième publication d'une série de manuels de formation en irrigation. Ce manuel traite des besoins de drainage dans les zones irriguées, particulièrement au niveau des exploitations agricoles. Il examine les systèmes permettant de drainer les terres irriguées et analyse les facteurs pédologiques et hydrologiques qui déterminent le drainage. Il aborde brièvement les questions de conception, de construction, de fonctionnement et de gestion des réseaux de drainage de parcelles.
Gestion des eaux en irrigation, Manuel de formation 9: "Drainage des Terres irriguées", 75 pages. ISBN 92-5-203779-9, Prix 10.00$E.U. Renseignements et commandes: Publications-sales@fao.org ou par le catalogue interactif de publications de la FAO ( http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm)
Si vous désirez plus d'information technique, envoyez un mél a Fernando.Chanduvi@fao.org ou Julian.Beltran@fao.org
Drenaje de las terras de regadio es el noveno de una serie de manuales sobre el riego. En el se examina la necesidad de drenaje en las tierras de regadio, centrando la atencion en el drenaje a nivel de explotacion agricola. Se analizan tambien los sistemas utilizados para el drenaje de tierras de regadio. Se exponen brevemente los temas relativos al trazado, la realizacion, el funcionamiento y mantenimiento de los sistemas de drenaje.
Manejo del agua de riego, manual de campo 9: "El Drenaje de las Tierras de Regadio", ISBN 92-5-303779-2 , precio US$ 10.00, puede ser adquirido del Grupo de Ventas y Mercadeo, FAO, por correo electrónico ( publications-sales@fao.org) o a través de la línea inter-activa del Catálogo de Publicaciones de la FAO (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm). También está disponible en Inglés y Frances.
Contact: Fernando.Chanduvi@fao.org o Julian.Beltran@fao.org
Return to the Table of Contents of the 13th issue of Land-and-water-l
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 14
8 September 1997
Contents
1./ Soil Conservation in Asia and the
Pacific (English)
2./ Water Report 11: Seawater intrusion in
coastal aquifers - Guidelines
for study, monitoring and control (English)
3./ Bulletin d'Irrigation et de Drainage 52:
Reformer les politiques dans le
domaine des ressources en eau (Francais)
4./ Land and Water Bulletin 6: Long-term
scenarios of livestock-crop-land
use interactions in developping countries (English)
5./ Bulletin FAO Engrais et Nutrition Vegetale
12: Systemes integres de
nutrition des plantes (Francais)
SOIL CONSERVATION IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Under the framework of the International Scheme for
Conservation of Lands in
Asia and the Pacific (CLASP) a regional workshop in Hanoi,
Vietnam was
organized to explore possibilities for stimulating information
exchange on
soil and water conservation (SWC) as well as to initiate or
upgrade national
SWC programmes. The workshop gave the represented countries the
opportunity
to exchange experiences on soil and water conservation and to
present
highlights of national SWC approaches and technologies. The
workshop
focused mainly on two interesting initiatives for the promotion
of national
programmes to combat land degradation:
1) the Farmer Field School (FFS) - Approach and
2) the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies
(WOCAT)
initiative.
Delegates of the following countries participated in the CLASP
workshop:
China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka,
Thailand and
Vietnam. The delegates were mostly experienced technicians
and
decision-makers and discussion subjects were planned with the
intention of
to focus on a SWC policy workshop, emphasizing the
complementarity between
WOCAT and CLASP, with reference to FFS as one of the available
participatory
"tools".
Through a sequence of group working sessions and
presentations, the workshop
participants determined purposes and target groups for a National
Inventory
of Conservation and Approaches (NICAT), reviewed WOCAT
questionnaires,
presented and discussed country highlights of SWC approaches
and
technologies, became familiar with FFS and discussed the
potentials of FFS
for the promotion of integrated land management. Finally a
detailed action
plan model for a NICAT exercise was developed.
The results of the workshop will soon be published in the
Contour Newsletter
of the Asian Soil Conservation Network (ASOCON).
More technical information can be obtained from Freddy.Nachtergaele@fao.org
WATER REPORT 11 - SEWAWATER INTRUSION IN COASTAL AQUIFERS - GUIDELINES FOR STUDY, MONITORING AND CONTROL
At present, six out of ten people live within 60 km of a
coast, and by the
year 2000 more than two-thirds of the population of developing
countries
will live in the vicinity of the sea. The increasing
concentration of human
settlements in coastal areas gives rise to excessive pressure
on
groundwater, resulting in seawater intrusion and related
deterioration of
the water quality. The scope of these guidelines is to draw
attention to the
problem of seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers and to
present measures,
both legal and technical, to be taken with the view of studying,
monitoring,
preventing and controlling seawater intrusion. The publication
should appeal
both to authorities responsible for groundwater management and
to
decision-makers.
Water Report No 11: "Seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers -
Guidelines for
study, monitoring and control", ISBN 92-5-103986-0, price 17.00
US$, can be
purchased from the Sales and Marketing Group, FAO, by E-mail
(publications-sales@fao.org)
or online through FAO's interactive
Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from JeanMarc.Faures@fao.org
BULLETIN D'IRRIGATION ET DE DRAINAGE
52: REFORMER LES POLITIQUES DANS LE
DOMAINE DES RESSOURCES EN EAU
Dans l'objectif de promouvoir et de soutenir les politiques
nationales, les
reformes legislatives, la planification et le developpemnent
institutionnel
dans le secteur de l'eau, ce manuel presente des methodes,
processus et
approches pour organiser un reexamen des politiques dans ce
secteur au
niveau des pays. Il fait ressortir le champ d'action et les
ramifications de
la gestion de l'eau, ainsi que les liens entre le secteur de
l'eau et les
autres parties de l'economie, et degage les principes et
secteurs
correspondants. Cette publication etudie les processus et les
reformes mises
en oeuvre lors de recents reexamens du secteur de l'eau dans des
pays en
developpement et industrialises, en mettant l'accent sur un
certain nombre
de questions cles des politiques concernant ce secteur.
Bulletin FAO d'Irrigation et de Drainage numero 52: "Reformer
les politiques
dans le domaine des ressources en eau - Guide des methodes,
processus et
pratiques", 73 pages. ISBN 92-5-203506-0, Prix 10.00 $E.U.
Renseignements et
commandes: Publications-sales@fao.org
ou par le catalogue interactif de
publications de la FAO (http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm)
This bulletin is also available in English. Same price, ISBN 92-5-103506-7
Si vous desirez plus d'information technique, envoyez un mel
a
Bo.Appelgren@fao.org
LAND AND WATER BULLETIN 6: LONG-TERM
SCENARIOS OF LIVESTOCK-CROP-LAND USE
INTERACTIONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Interactions among livestock, crops and land use under
intensified
agricultural prodution can contribute to increased emission of a
number of
atmopheric pollutants. This bulletin presents various long-term
scenarios of
livestock-crop-land use interactions and their possible effects
on
greenhouse warming as well as the environmental effects related
to crop and
animal waste production. It describes the possible future
magnitude of
problems related to the use of animal feedstuffs and inputs of
nutrients and
will therefore be of interest to fertilizer specialists,
agronomists and
professionals dealing with rural environmental protection.
Land and Water Bulletin No 6: "Long-term scenarios of
livestock-crop-land
use interactions in developing countries", ISBN 92-5-103985-2,
price 17.00
US$, can be purchased from the Sales and Marketing Group, FAO, by
E-mail
(publications-sales@fao.org)
or online through FAO's interactive
Publications Catalogue (Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm).
More technical information can be obtained from Freddy.Nachtergaele@fao.org
BULLETIN FAO ENGRAIS ET NUTRITION
VEGETALE 12 - SYSTEMES INTEGRES DE
NUTRITION DES PLANTES
Cette publication constitue le compte-rendu de la Consultation
d'Experts sur
les systemes integres de nutrition des plantes qui s'est tenue a
Rome du 13
au 15 Decembre 1993. Ce compte-rendu suit les six principaux
themes de la
consultation: importance de la nutrition des plantes du point de
vue de la
production agricole; matiere organique du sol, biomasse,
microflore du sol
et gestion des systemes integres de nutrition des plantes;
approvisionnement
renouvelable et transfert vers les cultures d'elements
fertilisants
provenant de sources naturelles; evaluation du role et de
l'importance des
sources locales et exterieures d'elements fertilisants a
l'interieur des
systemes de culture; gestion des elements fertilisants dans le
cadre des
systemes de production et au niveau des bassins versants et des
territoires;
priorites du programme Systemes integres de nutrition des plantes
(SINP) de
la FAO. Le resume du compte-rendu fait ressortir les grandes
orientations
des exposes presentes sur les differents themes. Il inclut les
conclusions
de la Consultation ainsi que les recommandations pour les actions
a venir.
Bulletin FAO Engrais et nutrition vegetale numero 12:
"Systemes integres de
nutrition des plantes", 448 pages. ISBN 92-5-203665-2, Prix 43.00
$E.U.
Renseignements et commandes: Publications-sales@fao.org
ou par le catalogue
interactif de publications de la FAO
(http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm)
This bulletin is also available in English. Same price, ISBN 92-5-103665-9
Si vous desirez plus d'information technique, envoyez un mel
a
Walter.BurgosLeon@fao.org
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 15
23 September 1997
Contents
1./ Soil degradation in South and Southeast
Asia (ASSOD) (English)
2./ XIIIth International Congress of
Agricultural Engineering (English)
3./ XIIIeme Congres international du Genie rural
(Francais)
4./ Global Climate Change and Agricultural
Production (English)
5./ 1998 International Fertilizer Award open
(English)
SOIL DEGRADATION IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (ASSOD)
The Assessment of the status of human-induced soil degradation
in South and
Southeast Asia
was prepared by ISRIC under a financial agreement with UNEP and
has been
made possible through the cooperation of the FAO Regional office
for Asia
and the Pacific, in particular AGLSDRs Problem Soil Network,
and a large
number of national institutions in the region.
A report with various maps, graphs and tables has been
prepared, derived
from the ASSOD database. Besides an overview map showing the
dominant
degradation types for the entire region at a small scale,
examples of
thematic maps are given for specific regions in which these
degradation
types are the most significant.
Detailed information for each polygon can be derived from the
ASSOD database
which is available on request from ISRIC as dBaseIV, Excel or
ASCII files.
ISRIC also has the intention to make the database and eventually
a viewer
available on the Web in the near future.
Copies of the maps for the entire region at A1 Format can be
ordered from
ISRIC (e-mail: soil@isric.nl) at a cost of US$25.00 +
US$15.00 (air mail
charge).
For further technical information, contact Freddy.Nachtergaele@fao.org
XIIIth INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING - Rabat, Morocco,
2-6 February 1998
The following message was received from the Moroccan National
Committee of
CIGR (Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) and is forwarded
for
information:
Morocco will host the XIIIth International Congress of
Agricultural
Engineering in Rabat from 2 to 6 February 1998. This event is
organized by
ANAFID which is the Moroccan National Committee of CIGR. The
Congress is
expected to gather more than 500 experts and specialists from
about 60
countries. It will also be an opportunity for the participants to
learn
about the Moroccan experience in terms of rural engineering and
its
contribution to rural development.
The themes of the congress will be:
- Land and water use
- Structures, equipment and the environment
- Mechanization
- Electricity and other energies
- Management and ergonomics
- Processing
Information on registration can be obtained directly from the
Association
nationale des ameliorations foncieres, de l'irrigation et du
drainage
(ANAFID), at the following address:
ANAFID, 2, rue Haroun Errachid 10101, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
Fax: 212- 7 67 03 03, Tel: 212 - 7 67 03 20
XIIIeme CONGRES INTERNATIONAL DU GENIE
RURAL - Rabat, Maroc, 2-6 fevrier
1998
Nous transmettons ci-dessous avec plaisir une communication du
Comite
national marocain de la CIGR (Commission Internationale du Genie
Rural):
Le Maroc accueillera du 2 au 6 fevrier 1998 a Rabat le XIIIeme
congres
international du genie rural. Cette manifestation, organisee par
l'ANAFID,
representant officiel du Maroc au sein de la CIGR, regroupera
plus de 500
experts et specialistes en provenance d'une soixantaine de pays.
C'est aussi
une occasion pour connaitre l'experience marocaine en matiere de
genie rural
et de sa contribution au developpement rural.
Les themes du congres sont les suivants:
- Eau et sol
- Structures, constructions agricoles, equipements et
environnement
- Mecanisation agricole
- Electrification rurale
- Ergonomie
- Transformation des produits agricoles
Les informations concernant l'inscription peuvent etre
obtenues aupres de
l'Association nationale des ameliorations foncieres, de
l'irrigation et du
drainage (ANAFID), a l'adresse suivante:
ANAFID, 2, rue Haroun Errachid 10101, Agdal, Rabat, Maroc
Fax: 212- 7 67 03 03, Tel: 212 - 7 67 03 20
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Direct and Indirect Effects of Changing Hydrological,
Pedological and Plant
Physiological Processes
Edited by Fakhri Bazzaz and Wim Sombroek
It is now held as likely that in the coming 50 years, a change
in climatic
conditions will affect agricultural systems the world over.
Until now, the
projections of FAO have concentrated on the expected increase in
human
population, their basic needs, and the associated demands on
natural
resources, especially land and water resources, to provide them
with the
necessary food, fibre, animal feed, forest products and living
space.
In addition, projections beyond 2010 will have to reckon with
changes in
agroclimatic conditions as a result of the enhanced greenhouse
effect,
envisaged to be larger than any climatic variation in the last
few thousand
years.
Global Climate Change and Agricultural Production is the
result of an Expert
Consultation held at FAO Headquarters in Rome to discuss direct
and indirect
effects on agriculture at the regional level. Agriculture was
defined in
the broad sense to include crop growing, animal husbandry,
forestry and
fisheries. However, the Consultation concentrated on changing
climatic
conditions for annual and perennial crop growing. In doing so,
it attempted
to strike a balance between the negative effects of the
anticipated climate
change on natural and managed ecosystems, and the potential
positive effects
on plant production of higher temperatures, an increased CO2
fertilization
and higher water-use efficiency - which might constitute a
blessing in
disguise for the future of humanity.
1996, 358 pp., US$ 60.00, ISBN 92-5-103987-9
Please note that John Wiley & Sons have exclusive
English-language selling
rights for this co-publication in the UK, Ireland, Canada, the
USA,
Australia and New Zealand. Customers from these areas are kindly
invited to
place their orders through John Wiley & Sons at the following
address:
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Baffins Lane, Chichester PO19 1UD, UK
Fax.: +44 (0) 1243 770432, e-mail: cs-books@wiley.co.uk
The paperback edition is available for sale from FAO only to
all countries
other than those
in the co-publisher's exclusive area. A 35% discount is granted
to customers
from developing countries.
1998 INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER AWARD OPEN
The following message was received from the International
Fertilizer
Industry Association and is forwarded for information:
Nominations are invited for the 1998 International Fertilizer
Award, for
research which has led to a significant advance in the efficiency
of mineral
fertilizer use in developed countries. Candidates for the Award
of US$10 000
should be nominated by an IFA (International Fertilizer
Industry
Association) member company by 20 February 1998.
The Award is offered to individual agronomists, crop or soil
scientists,
from the public or private sector, from the fertilizer industry
or a
research institute, on the basis of the originality of the
research and its
practical application. Preference is given to an approcah which
takes
account of relevant factors such as soil fertility, crop
management, the use
of other inputs, etc, leading to improvements in fertilizer use
efficiency.
The quality and communication of the research results, the
attention paid to
environmental issues and the international relevance of the work
are also
assessed by an independent international panel of scientists.
The successful nominee will be invited to receive the Award at
the IFA
Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada, from 11 to 14 May 1998. For
full
details and a nomination brochure, including a list of IFA
members in the
relevant country, please contact:
Jack Whelan, External Relations, IFA, 28 rue Marbeuf, Paris
75008, France
Tel: +33 153 930 500, Fax: +33 153 930 545/6/7, E-mail: ifamail@worldnet.fr,
Web: www.fertilizer.org
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 16
6 November 1997
Contents
WATER REPORT 12: MODERNIZATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEMES
The expert consultation on "Modernization of irrigation schemes - Past experiences and future options" was held in Bangkok from 26 to 29 November 1996. The consultation was attended by nine country representatives, seven resources persons from International Organizations and Institutes, five representatives from FAO and 30 observers from the Royal Irrigation Department and other international organizations located in Thailand.
This expert consultation broadly aimed to examine the various aspects of modernization of irrigation schemes and provided a framework for assessing the need and possibilities for adopting the required measures for modernization in the irrigation schemes of various countries in the region. It is hoped that the present compilation of papers presented during the Expert consultation will provide the basic information needed for undertaking these programmes and that the concerned organizations in the various countries of the Asian region recognize the need and importance of modernization of irrigation schemes and initiate appropriate action for the same.
FAO Water Report 12 / RAP Publication 1997/22
Modernization of irrigation schemes: past experiences and future
options, 258 pages
ISBN: 92-5-104020-6
Price: $26.00
To order: send request to publications-sales@fao.org
For further information, contact Klaus Siegert: klaus.siegert@fao.org
A summary of the expert consultation's conclusions and recommendations is available on the Net at: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/AGLW/modernis.htm