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FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 28
14 December 1999
Contents:
1. LAND AND WATER DIGITAL MEDIA SERIES 6:
SIMIS; SCHEME IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
SIMIS (Scheme Irrigation Management Information System) is a decision-support system aimed at assisting the managers and staff of irrigation systems in their daily tasks. A SIMIS project stores information about climate, soils, crops, land tenure, land use and the maintenance status of an irrigation scheme. SIMIS processes information to provide crop water requirements. By interacting with the user it generates water delivery schedules and seasonal irrigation plans. SIMIS also provides support on accounting, calculating water fees and maintenance control.
Land and Water Digital Media Series 6:
SIMIS; Scheme Irrigation Management Information System.
1 CD-ROM
ISBN: 92-5-104317-5
Price: US$ 40,-
To order: send request to:publications-sales@fao.org or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue: http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
For further information regarding this CD-ROM, please contact: Juan.Sagardoy@fao.org
2. INTERNATIONAL TRAINING SEMINAR ON
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Sanliurfa, Turkey, 12 -17 January 2000
The South Eastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration (GAP-RDA) in cooperation with Arizona State University will organize an "International Training Seminar on Environmental Management". The objective of this training seminar is to improve the understanding and technical capacity in environmental management and develop strategies to maintain the quality of water and land resources in the GAP-region as agricultural and industrial pressure increases.
International Training Seminar on Environmental Management
Sanliurfa, Turkey, 12 -17 January 2000
For further information please contact Ms. Melek Cakmak of the
GAP
International Training Programme: mcakmak@gap.gov.tr
3. SITUACION ACTUAL Y PERSPECTIVAS DE LOS
FERTILIZANTES EN EL MUNDO
1997/98 - 2003/2004
La Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO) informa sobre las estadísticas oficiales de la producción, el consumo y el comercio mundial de fertilizantes dividido según los principales grupos, para los años 1997/98 y precedentes. Este informe presenta también las estimaciones de los consumos para 1998/99 y los pronósticos de abastecimiento y demanda mundial de fertilizantes en el período 1999/2000 a 2003/2004. La FAO, el Banco Mundial, la UNIDO y el Grupo de Trabajo de la Industria hicieron los pronósticos en junio de 1999.
Este informe tiene el objetivo de hacer llegar a los países miembros de la FAO información sobre lo anteriormente descrito; además dicha información será distribuida a otras partes interesadas y estará disponible al público en general. Se agradecen las contribuciones de las agencias que han participado en la preparación de este trabajo, de las asociaciones de la industria de fertilizantes y de diversas personas e instuciones.
Situación actual y perspectivas de los fertilizantes en
el mundo
1997/98 - 2003/2004
35 páginas.
Este informe se puede bajar de la red en la
dirección:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/agln/pubagln.htm#outlk
Para una información más detallada, contactar
con:
Tanja.VanDenBergen@fao.org
In the tropics most of the steepland areas are settled by small-scale farming families where livelihoods may be endangered by land degradation and associated loss of productivity. This bulletin brings concepts and principles of good land husbandry into focus, as a basis for developing different ways of thinking about safe management of steeplands within the environmental, cultural and economic context of the farm families that inhabit them. The translation of the concepts and principles of good land husbandry into field practice will require practical actions that are well adjusted to the site and farmer-specific conditions where they would be applied.
FAO Soils Bulletin 75:
New concepts and approaches to land management in the tropics
with emphasis on steeplands
126 pages
ISBN: 92-5-104319-1
Price: US$ 45,- To order: send request to: publications-sales@fao.org
or online through FAO's interactive
Publications Catalogue: http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
For further information regarding this document, please
contact:
Jose.Benites@fao.org
5. SYNTHESE AGRONOMIQUE DES ESSAIS DE FERTILISATION DANS LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO
La FAO a animé le Programme National Engrais (PNE) pendant 18 ans, de 1973 à 1990, grâce au soutien de la Coopération belge. En 1990, le PNE a été institutionnalisé en devenantle Service National de Fertilisants et Intrants Connexes (SENAFIC) au sein du Ministère de l'Agriculture. Une synthèse agronomique des réalisations du PNE a été élaborée par province avec l'aide de l'Université de Bonn.
Synthèse agronomique des essais de fertilisation dans
la
République démocratique du Congo
1 CD-ROM Pour plus d'information sur ce CD-ROM, vous pouvez
contacter:
Tanja.VanDenBergen@fao.org
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER Number 27
11 November 1999 Contents:
1. A FERTILIZER STRATEGY FOR ZIMBABWE
Fertilizer use derives from the demand for agricultural commodities. In Zimbabwe, population growth and rising per caput incomes will require more intensive crop production. The food demand projections made use of population and income growth projections from the National Economic Planning Commission for the periods 1995-2007 and 2007-2020 and FAO estimates for the income elasticity of the demand for food. The estimates indicate that 90 percent of the increase in cereal demand will be due to population growth and the remainder primarily to income growth.
Analysis of land suitability for crop production in 18 agro-ecological zones in the five Natural Regions of Zimbabwe and the irrigated areas provided the basis to assess the feasibility for cropped area expansion and yield projections. Yield projections were constrained by imposing a yield growth limit that did not exceed historically observed yield growth. Sensitivity analysis of this assumption for maize yields shows that there is sufficient scope for arable land expansion.
A specific objective of this study is to provide an estimate of the amount of fertilizer needed to support the projections of agricultural commodity production for 2020. This study projects the major crop area, yield and fertilizer use to 2020. It also examines the conditions under which farmers, particularly smallholders, may adopt and expand fertilizer use.
Among the key parameters for future economic success are an open economy, mallholder access to markets and inputs, and measures to increase land use efficiency and productivity. Increased smallholder production and fertilizer use will depend on high producer prices and affordable fertilizer. Achieving the latter requires improvements in access, financing, infrastructure, marketing, training, research and extension services.
A Fertilizer Strategy for Zimbabwe
97 pages
For further information regarding this document, please contact:
2. TERMINOLOGY FOR INTEGRATED RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
Since its appointment as Task Manager for the implementation of Chapter 10 of UNCED's Agenda 21, FAO has developed an integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources. This approach emphasizes the active participation of stakeholders at national, provincial and local levels in planning and decision making as well as the integration of technical, industrial, legal and socio-economic aspects of the process. Cooperation among experts from the various diciplines involved and the integration of the respective results are required in order to identify and evaluate all biophysical, socio-economic and legal attributes of the land. The terminology included here should contribute to the creation of a common technical language in land resources planning and management.
Terminology for Integrated Resources Planning and
Management.
Compiled and edited by Keya Choudhury and Louisa J. M.
Jansen.
69 pages
For further information, regarding this document, please contact:
3. CURRENT WORLD FERTILIZER SITUATION AND
OUTLOOK
1997/98 - 2003/2004
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports official statistics on world fertilizer production, comsumption and trade for each major nutrient in 1997/98 and preceding years. This report presents estimates of consumption for 1998/99 and forecasts of world fertilizer supply and demand for the period from 1999/2000 to 2003/2004. The FAO, World Bank, UNIDO and the Industry Working Group made the forecasts in June 1999.
This report has been prepared as an information source to FAO Member Countries and for general distribution. The contributions of participating agencies, fertilizer industry associations, institutions and individuals are gratefully acknowledged.
Current World Fertilizer Situation and Outlook - 1997/98 -
2003/2004
35 pages
This document can be downloaded on our website:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/agln/pubagln.htm#outlk
For further information regarding this document, please contact:
4. SITUATION ACTUELLE ET PERSPECTIVES MONDIALES DES ENGRAIS - 1997/98 - 2003/2004
Le rapport est basé sur les statistiques officielles de la FAO relatives à la production, à la consommation, et au commerce des engrais par élément fertilisant principal en 1997/98 et durant les années précédentes. Il présente aussi des estimations de la consommation d'engrais en 1998/99 ainsi que des prévisions concernant l'offre et la demande mondiales d'engrais pour la periode 1999/2000 - 2003/2004. Ces prévisions ont été établies en juin 1999 par le Groupe de travail FAO/ONUDI/Banque mondiale/Industries sur les engrais.
Le rapport a été préparé à l'intention des Etats Membres de la FAO et pour une distribution générale. Nous tenons à remercier les organismes participants, les associations de l'industrie des engrais, les institutions professionelles, et les particulier qui nous ont fourni informations et conseils.
Situation Actuelle et Perspectives Mondiales des Engrais -
1997/98 - 2003/2004
37 pages
Ce document est téléchargeable sur le Web à l'adresse suivante:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/agln/pubagln.htm#outlkSi vous désirez plus d'information sur ce document, vous pouvez contacter:
Tanja.VanDenBergen@fao.org5. TRANSFER OF IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES - Guidelines
Irrigation management transfer (IMT) means the relocation of responsibility and authority for irrigation management from government agencies to non-governmental organizations, such as the water users' associations. It may include all or partial transfer of management functions and authority. IMT is a widespread process that is taking place in more than forty countries worldwide. Experience indicates the need for a more conceptual and systematic approach to the intended reform. These guidelines have been written to assist policy-makers, planners, technical experts, farmers' representatives and others involved in irrigation management transfer programmes to design and implement an effective, comprehensive and sustainable reform.
Transfer of Irrigation Management Services - Guidelines by
Douglas L. Vermillion and Juan A. Sagardoy.
100 pages
ISBN: 92-5-104308-6
Price: US$ 14
To order: send request to publications-sales@fao.org
or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue:
http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htmFor further information, please contact Juan.Sagardoy@fao.org
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 26
6 September 1999
Contents:
1. FAO IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PAPER 57:
SOIL SALINITY ASSESSMENT
Methods and interpretation of electric conductivity measurements
This report presents updated technology for assessing soil salinity based on measurement of electrical conductivity. The technology has been extensively and successfully field tested, and it is sound, reliable, accurate and suitable to a wide variety of useful applications. The advocated instrumental methodology is practical, cost effective and well developed for all general applications. It is cheaper, faster and more informative than traditional methods of salinity measurements based on soils sampling and laboratory analysis.
The usefulness of the methodology has been demonstrated for diagnosing, inventorying and monitoring soil salinity; evaluating the adequacy and appropriateness of irrigation and drainage systems and management practices; determining the sources of excess leaching, drainage and salt-loading in crop lands; establishing spatial soil salinity information; and scheduling irrigation under saline conditions.
The paper is aimed at field engineers and researchers in national and international institutions and the new technology offers the potential to identify the inherent causes of salinization in fields, especially when integrated with GIS technology. The salinity assessment advocated in this report offers a more suitable basis for evaluating, managing and controlling soil salinity than do the leaching requirement and salt balance concepts/measurements as traditionally applied.
The presented salinity assessment technology offers substantial practical potential to inventory, monitor, manage and control soil and water salinity, as will be needed to sustain irrigated agriculture and to meet the world's food needs in the coming decades.
FAO IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PAPER 57:
Soil salinity assessment, Methods and interpretation of
electric
conductivity measurements.
150 pages
ISBN: 92-5-104281-0
Price: US$ 15,-
To order: send request to
or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
Irrigated agriculture will play an important role in helping to increase the production of food and fibre to meet future demands. To meet these challenges requires improvements in the way irrigation systems are managed and operated. Modernization of irrigation systems involves institutional, organizational and technological change. This report provides much needed information about the success and impact of modernization initiatives that have been carried out. Using a review of irrigation schemes from around the world the impact of modern water control and management approaches is assessed and commented upon. Modernization is shown to have a positive impact. The report concludes with recommendations for the consideration of planners, managers and lending agencies so that the benefits of modern irrigated agriculture can be realized.
FAO WATER REPORT 19:
Modern water control and management practices in irrigation,
Impact on performance
223 pages,
ISBN: 92-5-104282-9
Price: US$ 29,-
or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
For further information regarding this document, please
contact:
Arumugam.Kandiah@fao.org
3. FIFTH BIANNUAL MEETING OF THE LATIN AMERICAN
NETWORK FOR CONSERVATION
Farming, Brazil
The Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Institute (EPAGRI) of Santa Catarina and FAO are organizing the 5th biannual meeting of the Latin American Network for Conservation Farming (RELACO), in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from 3 to 7 October this year. The subject of the meeting is "Zero Tillage: A Tool for Conservation Agriculture". Keynote papers will be presented on regional and national experiences with zero tillage.
Sessions will be organized around the following topics:
For more information contact Milton da Veiga at milveiga@epagri.rct-sc.br
Leandro do Prado Wildner at lpwild@epagri.rct-sc.br or
Valdemar H. de Freitas at salgado@epagri.rct-sc.br
For more information on RELACO, consult:
http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/ags/AGSE/TEO/SUBM2.HTM
4. LAND AND WATER BULLETIN 7:
Land and water resources information systems
This document presents the results of the FAO-sponsored Technical Consultation on Land and Water Resources Information Systems. The consultation reviewed the current status of such information systems and discussed various issues related to the identification of users and their practical needs for land and water information at the global, regional, national, subnational and local levels. The consultation advised FAO on the development and application of information systems for the assessment and monitoring of the state of land and water resources, for river basin management and for land and water management at the local level, and also on networking in methodology development and exchange of information on land and water.
LAND AND WATER BULLETIN 7:
Land and water resources information systems
38 pages + CD-ROM included,
ISBN: 92-5-104199-7
Price: US$ 48,-
To order: send request to
or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
For further information, please contact:
Jacques.Antoine@fao.org
5. WORLD SOIL RESOURCES REPORT 85:
Soil Fertility Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa
This publication contains the proceedings of a consultation on the Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI) for sub-Saharan Africa, which was held at FAO Headquarters, Rome on 19-20 November 1998. The aim of SFI is to act as a catalyst for the development and implementation of comprehensive soil fertility management programmes at country level. The objective of the consultation was to bring together donors and the international and national actors working on aspects of soil fertility and to coordinate their activities in order to benefit from the ensuing synergy.
WORLD SOIL RESOURCES REPORT 85:
Soil Fertility Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa
82 pages,
ISBN: 92-5-104298-5
Price: US$ 14,-
To order: send request to
or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue:
Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
For further information, please contact:
Jose.Benites@fao.org
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 25
30 June 1999
Contents:
1. NEW CHIEF OF FAO'S WATER SERVICE
As of 1 July 1999, Mr. Reto Florin has been appointed as Chief of the Water Resources Development and Mangement Service of FAO. Mr. Reto Florin has the Swiss nationality. He graduated in 1970 at the Federal Institute of Technology (Ecole Polytechnique), Zuerich with an MSc in Irrigation, Drainage and Land Resource Development.
Reto Florin started his professional career as a scientific assistant at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Hydraulic, Hydrological and Glaciological Research. His international career started in 1971 in a Swiss technical cooperation project in Burundi. In 1973 he joined the FAO-field program in Burundi working on the design and rehabilitation of large scale irrigation projects. From 1978 - 1980 he was appointed in Somalia as advisor in irrigation engineering.
Reto Florin joined FAO’s headquarters in 1980 where he contributed to the development of sustainable irrigation and to the promotion for the need of expansion of this sector and better co-ordination of public and private investments in cost-efficient small scale irrigation development. Next to this he monitored and assisted technical backstopping of field projects and programmes, and provided advise on project formulation and implemantation.
Through his long career and work within FAO, Mr Reto Florin has developed a profound understanding of the technical and institutional aspects of the development and management of water resources in general and of irrigation in particular.
Return to the Table of Contents of the 25th issue of Land-and-water-l
2. WATER REPORT 18:
IRRIGATION IN ASIA IN FIGURES
With the advent of the green revolution, high yielding varieties of the major cereals have made it possible for the countries of Asia to sustain a rapidly growing population. Irrigation has been critical in controlling soil moisture, allowing farmers to invest in quality seeds and inputs. Irrigation has expanded rapidly in the last 40 years: in total, the countries presented in this survey have more than 130 million ha of irrigated land, about 50 percent of the world's irrigated land.
The countries of Asia now face new challenges for agricultural production. In many areas the extent of land available for cultivation has reached its limits and intensification is necessary to satisfy the needs of the population. In the most arid areas of the region, mainly in parts of China and India, water is increasingly becoming a limiting factor to agricultural extension. At the same time, problems of land degradation are affecting the agricultural potential of the region.
A good understanding of the major trends and challenges facing irrigated agriculture in Asia is only possible with a complete, up-to-date information base covering all issues related to irrigation in the region.
This publication is the fourth of a series of reports prepared within the framework of FAO's AQUASTAT programme, aimed at providing information on water use and irrigation in the world. The first report covered the African continent. This report presents a description of the situation of water use and irrigation in the countries of the Asian continent not covered by the two previous publications on the Near East and on the countries of the former Soviet Union. It includes country profiles, summary tables, maps, and a regional synopsis emphasizing the sub-regional characteristics of this vast and diverse region.
FAO Water Report 18
Irrigation in Asia in figures
228 pages,
ISBN: 92-5-104259-4
Price: US$ 45,-
To order: send request to
or online through FAO's interactive Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm
The results of the AQUASTAT survey for Asia, have been placed on the World Wide Web, together with the results of earlier AQUASTAT surveys of the countries of the former Soviet Union, of the Near East region, and for Africa. They are available at the following URL:
Http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agl/aglw/aquastat/aquastat.htm
For further information, contact Jean-Marc Faurès: JeanMarc.Faures@fao.org
3. RAPPORT SUR LES RESSOURCES EN SOLS DU
MONDE 84:
BASE DE REFERENCE MONDIALE POUR LES RESSOURCES EN SOLS
Après quatre années de travail intensif commencé au 15e Congrès Mondial de la Science du Sol à Acapulco, Mexique, le Groupe de Travail BR de l’Association Internationale de la Science du Sol a préparé une série de trois publications montrant l’état actuel de la ‘Base de Référence Mondiale pour les Ressources en Sols (BRM)’. Cette série comprend :
1. Base de Référence Mondiale pour les Ressources en Sols : Introduction.
2. Base de Référence Mondiale pour les Ressources en Sols : Atlas.
3. Base de Référence Mondiale pour les Ressources en Sols.
La première publication doit servir d’introduction à la connaissance de la diversité des sols et de leur distribution ; elle se veut accessible à des disciplines autres que la ‘science du sol sensu stricto’ et à un plus large public. La seconde publication est un atlas donnant un aperçu de la distribution des groupes de sols de référence dans le monde. La troisième, présentée ici, peut être considérée comme un ‘manuel technique’ destiné spécifiquement aux pédologues. Elle donne les définitions et les critères diagnostiques des horizons, des propriétés et des matériaux des sols et contient une clé permettant de classifier les groupes de sols de référence ainsi que de leur donner des qualificatifs.
Ces publications n’ont été rendues possibles que grâce aux efforts continus d’un groupe important d’experts, et grâce à la coopération et au support logistique de l’AISS, de l’ISRIC et de la FAO.
Il est à espérer que ces publications contribueront à affermir la science du sol dans les débats publics ainsi que dans l’ensemble de la communauté scientifique.
Rapport sur les ressources en sols du monde 84:
Base de Reference Mondiale pour les Ressources en Sols.
96 pages,
ISBN: 92-5-204141-9
Prix: 15,- $EU
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 desirez plus d'information technique, envoyez un mel a Freddy Nachtergaele:
4. FLOOD MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION IN THE
MEKONG RIVER BASIN.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL WORKSHOP
The Regional Workshop on Flood Management and Mitigation was held from 18 to 21 March 1998 in Vientiane to review the various techniques and approaches to improve the management of floods and local preparedness to mitigate the negative effects. Regional experts and senior officials from the Mekong riparian countries and a core of international specialists and representatives from investment and development agencies in the region exchanged experiences, discussed the various options and prepared specific recommendations that could lead to a better preparedness for flooding and may reduce the negative effects of floods in a sustained manner.
The proceedings of the Workshop are contained in this report and provide a description of the various technical options in flood management as presented in the papers prepared by the regional and international specialists and summarized in the findings and recommendations of the Workshop.
It is hoped that the report provides the national governments and experts dealing with the recurrent problems of flooding in the Mekong riparian countries, and also in other countries in the world, with valid solutions to alleviate this severe problem.
RAP Publication 1999/14: Flood Management and Mitigation in the Mekong River Basin.
Proceedings of the Regional Workshop.
213 pages
For further information and to order this publication, contact Martin Smith:
5. PLANNING SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF
LAND RESOURCES:
THE SRI LANKAN EXAMPLE
This publication presents an outline of land use policy issues, and the constraints and perspectives of land-use planning for the sustainable land resources management in Sri Lanka. It presents the proposed approach to participatory land-use planning in the light of FAO's integrated approach to planning and management of land resources management and the profile of a comprehensive programme for government interventions to implement the approach to assist in finding solutions to the problems of sustainable land resources mangement.
This document can be viewed and downloaded on our website: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/AGLS/a.htm
For further information regarding this document, please contact:
Jacques.Antoine: Jacques.Antoine@FAO.ORG
6. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF DELTAS
The International Conference on Sustainable Development of Deltas was organised by the Ministery of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands. This conference held in Amsterdam from 23 to 27 November 1998. High level staff of Public Works Departments from countries facing issues with regard to the development of deltas were present during this conference, as well as representatives from international organisations, international banks and international NGO’s.
During the conference discussions took place and the results are presented in these proceedings, along with the material which was made available prior or during the conference. To mention are:
To order the Proceedings of the International Conference on
Sustainable Development of Deltas refer to:
Delft University Press
P.O.Box 98
2600 MG Delft
The Netherlands
tel: +31-15-2783252 / fax: 31-15-2781661
price: US$ 50,-
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 24
29 March 1999
Contents:
1. E-MAIL CONFERENCE ON WATER FOR FOOD IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
The World Water Council has convened a World Commission on Water for the 21st Century to produce a "Vision" for a more desirable water future and, in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership, a Framework for Action to achieve that vision. The Commission and the Vision are cosponsored by FAO, UNDP, UNESCO UNEP, UNICEF, WHO, WMO and the World Bank. Its members include individuals who are renowned for exemplary achievement in their respective fields. To frame this long term "Vision" on water, life and environment in the 21st Century, an e-mail conference is being held to consult with regional and sectoral experts and stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities for water use for food security and rural development in sub-Sahara Africa.
More information, as well as background papers and summary of discussions will be posted at the following internet address:
http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/AGLW/Africvis.htm
The conference is open to all interested persons. Interested persons will be requested to fill a short registration form for record keeping, formal acknowledgement of their contribution and follow-up after the conference. The E-mail address of the consultation is:
2. FAO IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
PAPER 56:
CROP EVAPOTRANSPIRATION; GUIDELINES FOR COMPUTING CROP WATER
REQUIREMENTS
This publication presents an updated procedure for calculating reference and crop evapotranspiration from meteorological data and crop coefficients. The procedure, first presented in FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 24 'Crop Water Requirements' in 1977, allows the estimation of the amount of water used by a crop taking into account the effect of the climate and the crop characteristics. The publication incorporates advances in research and more accurate procedures for determining crop water use as recommended by a panel of high level experts organized by FAO in May 1990. The first part of the publication includes procedures for determining reference crop evapotranspiration according to the FAO Penman-Monteith method. These are followed by updated procedures for estimating the evapotranspiration of different crops for different growth stages and ecological conditions.
FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56:
Crop evapotranspiration; Guidelines for computing crop water requirements.
144 pages
ISBN: 92-5-104219-5
Price: US$ ??,-
To order: send request to publications-sales@fao.org or online through FAO's interactive
Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm.
For further information regarding this document, please contact:
Return to the Table of Contents of the 24th issue of Land-and-water-l
3. PLANNING SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LAND RESOURCES: THE SRI LANKAN EXAMPLE
This publication presents an outline of land use policy issues, and the constraints and perspectives of land use planning for the sustainable land resources management in Sri Lanka. It presents the proposed approach to a participatory land use planning in the light of FAO’s integrated approach to planning and management of land resources management and the profile of a comprehensive programme for Government interventions to implement the approach to assist in finding solutions to the problems of sustainable land resources mangement.
For further information regarding this document, please contact:
mailto:Jacques.Antoine@FAO.ORG
Return to the Table of Contents of the 24th issue of Land-and-water-l
4. WATER REPORT 17:
INSTITUTIONAL AND TECHNICAL OPTIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENT OF SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION
Small-scale irrigation can have an important role in the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in view of its cost-effectiveness, rapidity of deployment and direct benefits for the rural poor. Experiences over the last 25 years have shown that for satisfactory performance, particular attention needs to be given to the technical and institutional aspect of small-scale irrigation. To review experiences and to recommend conditions for sustainable small-scale irrigation development, an international workshop was held in Tokyo, Japan from 3 to 6 February 1998 under the auspices of the Japan FAO Association. The main findings and recommendations of the workshop are presented in this document, together with the resouce and country papers.
Water Report: 17
Institutional and Technical Options in the Development and Management of Small-scale Irrigation.
144 pages
ISBN: 92-5-104218-7
Price: US$ ??,-
To order: send request to publications-sales@fao.org or online through FAO's interactive
Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm.
For further information regarding this document, please contact:
Return to the Table of Contents of the 24th issue of Land-and-water-l
5. IPTRID ISSUES PAPER NO. 1:
POVERTY REDUCTION AND IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
"Poverty reduction and irrigated agriculture" is the first in a series of issues papers being published by the "International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage" (IPTRID). The aim is to create awareness among the interested public and the professional community on irrigation and drainage issues, particularly on the positive benefits of irrigated agriculture. This paper aims to show how the means to reduce poverty lies in the socio-economic conditions that irrigated agriculture can change and in the way irrigation development is pursued. We hope that the paper will promote debate and act as a stimulant for new action to reach the poor through irrigated agriculture.
The text of the paper is downloadable on the following Internet address:
http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/iptrid/iptrid1.pdf
You can also request a copy by post from the IPTRID Secretariat by sending a message with your name, address and organization to:
Return to the Table of Contents of the 24th issue of Land-and-water-l
6. FERTICREDIT - CREDIT FOR SMALL FARMERS' GROUPS AND SAVINGS FOR DEVELOPMENT
This Field Document No. 11 of the FAO-SNAG Project in Bolivia (Fertisuelos), GCPF/BOL/018/NET, "Soil Management and Plant Nutrition in Farming Systems", explains, firstly, the reason why is it necessary to fertilize the cultivated soils; secondly, the system proposed by the project for generating savings and constituting one's own capital destined for the purchase of mineral fertilizers, necessary for a good harvest.
The Field Document has been published in English and Spanish and is downloadable from the Internet on the following addresses:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/agln/Fertcred/Default.htm (English version)
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/agln/Fertcrsp/Default.htm (Spanish version)
For further information and technical questions regarding this document, please contact:
mailto:Walter.BurgosLeon@FAO.ORG
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7. PLANT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT, FOOD SECURITY, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE THROUGH 2020
In order to develop an action plan for the eradication of hunger and malnutrition while protecting the environment by the year 2020, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) led an international initiative entitled A 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture and the Environment. In support of the 2020 Vision, IFPRI and FAO jointly organized a workshop in Viterbo, Italy in May 1995 on Plant Nutrient Management, Food Security, and Sustainable Agriculture: The Future through 2020. The proceedings of this workshop, including conclusions and recommendation, and the text of the nine papers presented at the workshop, have been made available on the Internet on the following address:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGL/agln/download/proifpri.pdf
For further information and technical questions regarding this document, please contact:
Return to the Table of Contents of the 24th issue of Land-and-water-l
8. LIST OF AGL-PUBLICATIONS ON THE INTERNET
The Land and Water Development Division is responsible for the following publication series:
* Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Bulletins
* Irrigation and Drainage Papers
* Soils Bulletins
* Land and Water Bulletins
* Land and Water Digital Media Series
* Development Series
* World Soil Resources Reports
* Water Reports
* Irrigation Water Management Training Manuals
* Miscellaneous Papers
* Miscellaneous Reports/Guides/Manuals/Filmstrips - Fertilizers
* Miscellaneous Reports/Guides/Manuals/Filmstrips - Soils
* Miscellaneous Reports/Guides/Manuals/Filmstrips - Water
The reports in these series are listed at the following URL:
http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/AGLPUB.HTM.
All official FAO-reports can be searched and ordered through FAO's interactive
Publications Catalogue: Http://www.fao.org/catalog/giphome.htm.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
(FAO)
LAND AND WATER ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Number 23
5 January 1999
Contents:
1. GABIONS IN WATER DEVELOPMENT
2. LAND AND WATER DIGITAL MEDIA SERIES
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1. GABIONS IN WATER DEVELOPMENT
A simple technique for building low-cost, long-lasting hydraulic structures in developing countries
Beginning in the 16th century, engineers in Europe used wicker baskets filled with soil - dubbed by their Italian inventors "gabbioni", or "big cages" - to fortify military emplacements and reinforce river banks. Today, the FAO Water Resources Development and Management Service (AGLW) is promoting the same simple technology - now known as "gabions" - as the building blocks of low-cost, long-lasting hydraulic structures in developing countries.
These days modular steel wire mesh has replaced wicker, and stones are used instead of soil, but the underlying strength of gabions - and their advantages over conventional rigid structures in engineering works - is unchanged. Subjected to alternating tension and compression, the intrinsic flexibility of a gabion structure enables it to bend rather than break, thereby preventing loss of structural efficiency. Being a deformable structure, any change in shape due to subsidence of foundations or internal stress is a functional feature, and not a fault. It therefore adapts to small earth movements and, in the process of deforming, will remains structurally sound, without fractures.
Since gabions are bound together, the wire mesh is extremely strong under tension, where as concrete is not. A gabion structure will withstand a degree of tension that would severely test a dry stone construction and be downright dangerous with plain concrete and masonry. The wire mesh shell is not simply a container for the stone filling, but a reinforcement of the entire structure. And a well-made gabion can withstand years of punishment: one used in Italy for protection of river banks more than 100 years ago was recently examined and found to be still in perfect condition.
The gabion shape has evolved and is reinforced along the edges of the wire mesh with larger diameter wires. This helps support the sides of the boxes during construction, makes tying operations easier and generally strengthens the gabion structure. Vertical diaphragms fixed to the base of the gabions are designed to restrict internal movement of the stone filling and provide further reinforcement. The hexagonal "wire mesh" itself is double twisted and galvanized to resist stress and corrosion hazards.
Stones within the gabion shell provide a great degree of permeability throughout the structure, eliminating the need for a drainage system. In river works, pressure and counterpressure on the banks due to variations in water depth between flood and low water are therefore also eliminated.
A gabion structure costs much less than a conventional structure. Low grade or even waste stones, usually found close to the work site, can be used to fill the wire cages, with no specialized materials or labour - such as masons or ironworkers - being required. Labour costs are minimal as unskilled labour, under the supervision of a few skilled workers, can be trained quickly to erect the gabion baskets, fill them and tie them together with galvanized iron wire. All of which makes this simple technique easy to introduce to rural people, who can also be actively involved in both the construction and future maintenance of hydraulic structures.
Gabion baskets can also be manufactured - literally, by hand - at village-level. This is a double advantage: it lowers the purchase cost of the baskets and creates a small rural industry, using unskilled local labour. This is in line with trends towards increasing use of labour-intensive techniques in modern development projects.
A gabion structure can be built without any mechanical equipment and works can start immediately because the initial stages of excavation and laying of foundations are minimal and can be carried out by hand. Likewise, for underwater structures, the first layer of gabions can be laid in water or in mud without the need for draining the site. Upon completion, a gabion structure will take its full load immediately without the waiting periods - of up to one month - normally associated with concrete structures. Furthermore, it is relatively easy to obtain good construction quality because of the simplicity of the two construction materials, i.e. the gabion baskets and the stones or rock fragments.
AGLW has long experience with gabion construction in various countries of the developing world, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, China, Viet Nam and Haiti, where water development and irrigation projects have all made use of either imported or locally-made gabion baskets. The structures most frequently consist of earthfill embankments and gabion-based anti-erosion protection, and a surface spillway made from gabions.
The spillway is an essential component of the structure, since it is the part in direct contact with water flow. A properly designed spillway should be able to control the discharge of excess water in a reservoir and protect the earth embankment against scouring and erosion.
However, while building hydraulic gabion structures is fairly simple, basic engineering rules must always be respected in order to ensure the stability, and thus the sustainability, of the structure. In particular, gabions are often associated with earth cuts or fills - therefore, the static stability and the intrinsic resistance of the whole structure and each of its components, individually, must be ensured.
The design and construction of gabion structures have not always been up to standard and, as a consequence, have caused partial or total failure of the works due to the excessive subsidence of foundations and, most often, the progressive infiltration and leakage of water along the interface between the gabions and adjacent earth material and foundations. This has sometimes led to progressive breakdown of the whole structure.
AGLW is now preparing a set of practical guidelines and norms for field engineers for the design and building of structures using earth and gabions. Particular emphasis will be placed on the interface between the two construction materials, precisely where the greatest risk of failure has been found. The publication will be useful in designing gabion spillways for small hillside dams, intake weirs for gravity irrigation schemes, groynes, river-bed training works and for protection against hydraulic erosion. A set of programs for computing construction stability will be provided, together with users' manuals.
This article, with accompanying figures, is also available on the Internet as part of FAO's 'Agriculture 21 Magazine' at:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/magazine/9812sp2.htm.
For further information contact Olivier Berney: Olivier.Berney@FAO.org
Return to the Table of Contents of the 23rd issue of Land-and-water-l
2. LAND AND WATER DIGITAL MEDIA SERIES
The Land and Water Development Division is responsible for several publication series (listed at the following URL: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/AGLPUB.HTM).
In addititon to this the Land and Water Development Division recently launched the "Land and Water Digital Media Series". Until now this series consists of five CD's. A short description of the different titles is given below. New titles will be announced in this newsletter and will be listed at the following URL:
http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/lwdms.HTM
# 1 - Digital Soil Map of the World and derived soil properites
This CD-ROM contains the Digital Soil Map of the World in various formats, vector as well as raster, supported by most GIS software. The base material is the FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World at an original scale of 1:5 million. Programs and data files give tabular country information on soil characteristics and derived soil properties from the map are included, such as pH, organic carbon content and soil moisture storage capability.
# 2 - Soil and Terrain Database for northeastern Africa
This CD-ROM contains a collection of land and natural resource information for northeastern Africa, in particular for the IGAD (InterGovernmental Authority on Development) countries bordering the Nile basin. It includes data on administrative boundaries, rivers and lakes, soil and terrain, climatology, land use , physiography, geology and natural vegetation in easily accessible format.
# 3 - The WOCAT CD-ROM
This CD-ROM illustrates the WOCAT methodology and contains preliminary datasets and results. WOCAT (World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies) is an international programme launched by the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASCW). The CD-ROM contains a programme profile, addresses, preliminary databases of soil and water conservation technologies, approaches, maps, a multimedia presentation, questionnaires, various reports with first results, and a glossary. All data are preliminary, subject to amendments by the contributors !
# 4 - ECOCROP 1 + 2
Ecocrop 1 is a tool to identify plant species for given environments and uses. The database contains basic crop environmental information and permits the identification of more than 1700 plant species of economic importance whose most important climate and soil requirements match the data on soil and climate entered by the user.
Ecocrop 2 is a tool to record, organize, compare and use crop response studies to environmental and management factors. The database holds crop response information for varieties of 20 crops of worldwide economic importance.
# 5 - Soils and Terrain Digital Database for Latin America and the Caribbean
This CD-ROM contains information on the soil and terrain resources of Latin America and the Caribbean compiled according to the soil and terrain database methodology (SOTER). Information is stored in a relational database and in Arc/Info export format. An independent viewer program allows access to all major information contained in the CD-ROM.