Water Use Efficiency for Increased Agricultural Productivity,

Sustainability and Competiveness in the Philippines: Technologies and

Practices, Issues and Problems, and Recommendations

by

Victor B. EllaProfessor

College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)UPLB, College, Laguna

NAST Roundtable Discussion on Intensification of Agriculture Traders Hotel, Manila

February 21, 2011

Water Use EfficiencyWater Use Efficiency

• Ratio of amount of water beneficially used to the amount of water delivered or withdrawn (hydraulic definition)

• Mass or value of agricultural produce per unit amount of water withdrawn (other definition)

Water Use Efficiency Water Use Efficiency (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Degree by which the use of water withdrawn from a given source for whatever purpose is maximized (practical definition)

• Implies minimization of losses during conveyance and application

Technologies and Technologies and Practices for Improving Practices for Improving

Water Use EfficiencyWater Use Efficiency

Technologies and Technologies and PracticesPractices

• Drip irrigationDrip irrigation

• Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)

•Conservation Agriculture (Biological Conservation Agriculture (Biological Engineering) Engineering)

•Proper irrigation water management Proper irrigation water management at the farm and system levelat the farm and system level

Technologies and Technologies and Practices (cont’d)Practices (cont’d)

• Irrigation by demand or by rotationIrrigation by demand or by rotation

•Improvement of conveyance and Improvement of conveyance and water delivery system water delivery system

•Development of minor irrigation Development of minor irrigation systemssystems

Technologies and Technologies and Practices (cont’d)Practices (cont’d)

• Optimal water resources allocationOptimal water resources allocation

• Water recycling and reuseWater recycling and reuse

•Water conservation and sustainable Water conservation and sustainable water resources managementwater resources management

Issues and ProblemsIssues and Problems• Lack of relevant research on Lack of relevant research on

efficient, effective and efficient, effective and appropriate irrigation water appropriate irrigation water management technologiesmanagement technologies

• Lack of financial and Lack of financial and institutional supportinstitutional support

Issues and Problems Issues and Problems (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

• Absence or inadequate water Absence or inadequate water control and hydraulic structurescontrol and hydraulic structures

• Social and organizational Social and organizational problemsproblems

• Poor maintenance of existing Poor maintenance of existing irrigation systems (NIS and CIS)irrigation systems (NIS and CIS)

Issues and Problems in Issues and Problems in Irrigation (cont’d.)Irrigation (cont’d.)

• Low priority given to minor irrigation Low priority given to minor irrigation systems (STWs, LLPs, SFRs)systems (STWs, LLPs, SFRs)

• Failure to fully implement AFMAFailure to fully implement AFMA

Relevant Provisions of the Relevant Provisions of the Agriculture and Fisheries Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) Modernization Act (AFMA)

of 1997 (R.A. 8435) of 1997 (R.A. 8435) • NIA is mandated by AFMA to plan, design,

develop, rehabilitate and improve the National Irrigation Systems

• The planning, design and management of communal irrigation systems are to be devolved to LGUs with NIA providing technical assistance

The Agriculture and The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 (R.A. 8435) (AFMA) of 1997 (R.A. 8435)

cont’d.cont’d.• DA is mandated by AFMA to formulate and develop a plan to promote minor irrigation systems e.g. STWs and LLPs

• AFMA stipulates that irrigation research and development shall be pursued and priority shall be given to the development of effective, appropriate and efficient irrigation and water management technologies

The Agriculture and The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 (R.A. 8435) (AFMA) of 1997 (R.A. 8435)

cont’d.cont’d.

• DA is mandated by AFMA to coordinate with DENR in the preservation and rehabilitation of watersheds to support irrigation systems

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Continued research and development Continued research and development on efficient irrigation technologies and on efficient irrigation technologies and practicespractices

Provision of adequate institutional and Provision of adequate institutional and financial support for research and financial support for research and technology promotiontechnology promotion

Provision of the necessary water control structures in existing irrigation systems

RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

Proper design of new irrigation systems Proper design of new irrigation systems to incorporate measures for increasing to incorporate measures for increasing water use efficiencywater use efficiency

Organization and/or strengthening of Organization and/or strengthening of irrigators associationirrigators association

Capacity building for all water usersPrioritization of minor irrigation

systems

RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

Better coordination among agencies, Better coordination among agencies, organizations and other entities that organizations and other entities that develop, manage and use water resources develop, manage and use water resources in the countryin the country

Revisit and implement the provisions of Revisit and implement the provisions of AFMA that are geared towards water use AFMA that are geared towards water use efficiencyefficiency

Better policies on water resources utilization in the Philippines

Sustainable water resources management

Thank You!Thank You!

Contact InformationContact Information

Dr. Victor B. EllaProfessorCollege of Engineering and Agro-Industrial

TechnologyUniversity of the Philippines Los BañosCollege, LagunaTel/Fax: (63-49) 536-2387E-mail: vbella@up.edu.ph or vbella100@yahoo.com