Game changers for irrigated agriculture – do the right incentives exist?

Jeremy Bird International Water Management Institute

1st World Irrigation ForumMardin, Turkey, 29 September 2013

Game changers for irrigated agriculture – do the right incentives exist?

Examples of water transfers exist

…as allocation to agriculture was reduced and transferred to urban use

Agricultural production levels maintained…

20

S

S

Social conflicts between brackish (shrimp) and freshwater (rice) environments

Higher incomeUS$2,150 /ha8700 farmers adopted innovation

Reduced pollution

Low income< US$ 1,500/haPolluted aquatic

environment

Improved locally-responsive zoning together with sluice gate management

…and co-management of competing uses rice – shrimp production in Viet Nam (and Bangladesh)

Provisioning services

Regulatory services

Cultural services

Supporting services

Natural basin

CropsHydropower

IndustrialRegulation of water balance

Erosion control

Climate regulationSoil

formation

Nutrient cycling

Recreation

CropsHydropower

IndustrialRegulation of water balance

Erosion control

Climate regulationSoil

formation

Nutrient cycling

Recreation

Intensively utilized basin

CropsHydropower

Industrial Regulation of water balance

Erosion control

Climate regulationSoil

formation

Nutrient cycling

Recreation

Multifunctional “green” basin

Natural and built infrastructure… striking a balance – increasing the total benefit stream

Wastewater

Piped water

A problem, but also an opportunity?

Agro-industrial waste - EnergyWastewater – Water (irrigation, aquaculture)

MSW, Faecal sludge - Nutrients (ag. production)

Innovative RRR initiatives – to close water and nutrient cycles

Water Land and Ecosystem Vision:A world in which agriculture thrives within vibrant ecosystems, where communities have higher incomes, improved food security and the ability to continuously improve their lives

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