FAO at the 24th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage
This week the FAO will be present at the 24th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage which this year follows the theme "Innovation and research in agriculture water management to achieve sustainable development goals". The congress aims to provide a platform for irrigation and drainage professionals and the broad range of other stakeholders to share their knowledge and experience in sustainable agriculture water management focusing on irrigation management and its related/integrated aspects. FAO will coconvene and present in several sessions, details of whch can be found below:
Tuesday 4th October
11:15 - 13:00 - Location: Hall C
Congress Question 62.1. - What Role can Information and Communication Technology Play in Travelling the Last Mile?
Presentation title: Comparative Evaluation of Crowdsourcing Optic Technology versus Centralized Traditional Water Monitoring
Summary: The intervention showcases FAO-implemented initiatives to demonstrate the differences between decentralized, ICT-based and centralized monitoring systems. It highlights the evidence-based advantages and barriers to define the enabling factors of the successful deployment of ICTs in the context of water monitoring.
14.00 - 15.45 - Location: L3
Special event: Irrigation Governance and Management in KSA, Including Large Scale Treated Wastewater Reuse
Summary: The event aims is to share the KSA experience on irrigation within severe water scarcity context, and treated wastewater reuse in irrigation, management and operating challenges faced. Its objective is to enrich the knowledge sharing, good practices and the eventual future partnerships and cooperation in this field, including the successful collaboration of FAO and the Saudi Irrigation Organization.
Organized by: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Saudi Irrigation Organization, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) & FAO
14.00 - 17.00 - Location E2
Special event: Beneficiary-centred Irrigation Management through Abolishing Obstacles and Putting Additional Measures into Participatory Irrigation Management
Summary: The event brings together partners and stakeholders to provide a global stocktaking and key lessons from the 40-years history of Participatory Irrigation Management. The objective is to showcase the implementation modalities and make a critical review on what works and what does not. The event aims to establish a new baseline for the future of sustainable Participatory Irrigation Management.
Organized by: FAO and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Wednesday 5th October
14.00 - 17.00 - Location: E2
Special event: Maximizing the Benefits from Paddy Fields: Multi-functional Roles of Paddy Fields and Agricultural Water Management
Summary: The event is built on FAO-led programme to support countries in exploiting the potential of paddy fields at global level. The goal of the event is to deepen understanding of approaches to efficient water use through making the most of the multi-functional roles of paddy fields and agricultural water management, and to make policy recommendations on the expansion of multi-functionality.
Organized by: FAO, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), and Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)
14.00 - 18.00 - Location: Riverbank Room 8
Special event: Session on the International Network of Service Providers for Irrigation Excellence (INSPIRE)
Presentation title: Effective Design and Challenges of Asset Management in Public Irrigation Systems
Summary: The intervention presents an innovative approach, developed by FAO, to introduce an asset management system in public irrigation schemes. The presentation illustrates the design process and technological infrastructure, while highlighting the necessary elements and challenges to operate such systems.
Organized by: The World Bank, with the contributions from the FAO and INSPIRE Partners
Thursday 6th October
11:15 - 15.45 - Location: E1
Symposium of the 24th ICID Congress
Keynote speech: Towards High-Performing Investment in Irrigation: Evidence-based Lessons to Increase Efficiency of Future Investments
Summary: The keynote speech summarizes the global status and challenges of investment in irrigation development. It proposes a number of strategic avenues to increase the efficiency of investments and to better align irrigation with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Country presentation: Exploring the Main Drivers of Return on Investment in Irrigation: Comprehensive Assessment of Irrigation Modernization in Egypt
Summary: The presentation draws on the long-standing collaboration between Egypt and FAO to identify the drivers of successful irrigation improvement and modernization. It provides a systematic stocktaking of the five enabling factors for maximizing the return on investment, while making development consistent with social, economic, and environmental objectives.
Closing remarks – video message by Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).