Institution of Civil EngineersGerald Lacey Memorial Lecture 2016

Gerald Lacey

Memorial Lecture 2016:

IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE 21ST

CENTURY – A SUITABLE CAREER CHOICE?

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IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE

21ST CENTURY – A SUITABLE

CAREER CHOICE?

Ian W MakinVice President (ICID)Lead Specialist - Irrigation (IWMI)

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Gerald Lacey Lecture, 16 May 2016, ICE London

• A long history

• Rent Seekers and Snake Oil

• Challenges for Agricultural Water Management

• Opportunities for a “suitable career”

OVERVIEW

Source: http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Hy-La/Irrigation-Systems-Ancient.html

A Long History - The Basis of Civilization

• Agriculture is the critical factor that enabled permanent settlements and

communities.

• From about 6500 BC, people in the Middle East no longer had on the

move continually searching for food or herding their animals.

• By about 5000 BC, farmers on floodplains of rivers raised wheat, barley,

and peas. They cut through the riverbanks so that water for their crops

could flow to lower lying soil.

• Sumerians in Mesopotamia, drained marshes and dug canals, dikes, and

ditches. The need for cooperation on these large irrigation projects led to

the growth of government and law.

• The Sumerians are thus credited with forming the earliest of the ancient civilizations.

• Edited: Robert Guisepi – Source: http://history-world.org/ancient_civilization.htm

An ancient professionAgriculture cannot be made solely dependent

on rains as it amounts to gambling with the

nature.

- Kauṭilya’s Arthshastra, 371 BC

References of canals and dams

found in Vedas and Smritis.

Irrigation Department of Chandragupta Mourya

(324 BC) constructed a beautiful lake named

Sudarshan at Girnar, Gujarat

An ancient profession

Sri Lanka – IWMI entrance hall

A long history – BUT-

• One in four Africans is hungry, and one in three African

child is stunted.

• Food production in Sub-Saharan Africa will need to

increase by about 60 percent by 2050

• In Asia water shortage already impacts industry, domestic

supply and energy users.

• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and World Bank Agriculture

Global Practice press releasehttp://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/04/20/boosting-african-agriculture-new-agra-world-bank-agreement-to-support-farming-

led-transformation (Accessed 20 April 2016)

Rent Seekers

and

Snake Oil Sellers Image Source: https://www.searcylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Villianc.jpg

Rent Seeking

“efforts by individuals or by specific interest-groups to influence the decision-making of the state or the bureaucracy in order to extract economic gains”

Walter Huppert.Huppert, W. 2013. Viewpoint - Rent-seeking in agricultural water management: An intentionally neglected core dimension? Water Alternatives 6(2): 265-275

Rent Seekers

“all those actors who are trying to induce (or prevent) political or institutional changes in order to garner individual or group specific rents”

Walter Huppert.Huppert, W. 2013. Viewpoint - Rent-seeking in agricultural water management: An intentionally neglected core dimension? Water Alternatives 6(2): 265-275

Impact of rent seeking

“Those concerned with irrigation development are trying to ‘work round it (rent-seeking)' to improve the performance of public irrigation systems by physical rehabilitation and efforts to strengthen management. These efforts, while also critical, are unlikely to succeed.”

- Repetto, R. 1986Repetto, R. 1986. Skimming the water: Rent-seeking and the performance of public irrigation systems. World Resources Institute Research Report No. 4. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.

Snake Oil Sellers

http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/51/93/581350776-SnakeOilSalesman-450px.jpg

Snake Oil – example -> Irrigation Investment

Approved in 2008 for 8 years at US$110 million

to sustainably develop irrigation and drainage infrastructure for over 17,300 ha

Restructured in 2011 and extended two years (to 2017) and total cost increased to US$181 million

Target command areas reduced to 7,300 ha

Status – 2016 –

irrigation services have not yet reached the farm land!

Agricultural Water Management in Context

• Growing population – changing diets

• Rural:Urban transition – increasing food and energy

demands, rural labour shortages

• Falling contribution of agriculture to employment and GDP

• Changing role of agriculture in many HH livelihoods (out-

migration, changing roles of women)

• Climate change

• Multiple and Competing uses of water

17

MANY CLAIM THAT TECHNOLOGY IS THE SOLUTION

• Properly installed drip irrigation can save up to 80 percent more water than conventional irrigation, and can even contribute to increased crop yields.

Source: http://www.cuesa.org/article/10-ways-farmers-are-saving-water

• Irrigation methods in USA & Australia:Table 1 Summary of irrigation technology use in USA and Australia

Country Irrigation Method (%) Irrigated

Area (ha) Surface Sprinkler Micro

USA in 2003 43.4 50.5 6.1 21,591,000

Australia, 2008-09 44.0 42.7 13.3 1,826,000

Sources: Hoffman et al 2007 and Government of Australia NWC. 2011

Technologies real potential?

• Irrigation efficiencies (Australian study)

– drip and micro (75-95%)

– sprinkler (60-90%) and

– surface (60-85%).

Note: Highest surface irrigation efficiency (85%) is higher than the lowest drip and micro (75%) and sprinkler (60%) efficiencies

Source Martin Burton – Indian Irrigation Forum - 2016

07 April 2016 19

Water Saving and Drip Irrigation

• Studies indicate that on average, drip-irrigated fields were cooler, indicating a higher consumption of irrigation water than flood-irrigated fields.

Source: REMOTE-SENSING-BASED COMPARISON OF WATER CONSUMPTION BY DRIP-IRRIGATED VERSUS FLOOD-IRRIGATED FIELDS Deming, New Mexico – prepared by: Intera Geosciences and Engineering, March 2013

IS EFFICIENCY THE ANSWER

• Politicians are being sold a myth: ‘they can efficiency their way out of an impending water crisis’ – Chris Perry 2016 email

• Indian Govt (February 2016) -- Agriculture requires a new paradigm including: increasing productivity by getting ‘more from less’ especially in relation to water via micro irrigation

Source: https://www.thethirdpole.net/2016/02/28/government-underlines-indias-water-crisis/ (accessed 12 May 2016)

• In India - micro irrigation subsidies range from 70 to 100%

ARUN JAITLEY - 2016 INDIAN BUDGET SPEECH

“We need to think beyond ‘food security’ and

give back to our farmers a sense of ‘income

security’. Government will, therefore, reorient its

interventions in the farm and non-farm sectors to

double the income of the farmers by 2022.”

Budget allocation (FY 2016/17) for Agriculture and

Farmers’ welfare is USD 5.42 bln. Arun Jaitley Minister of Finance February 29, 2016

AND THE SNAKE OIL

• Large investments by government and farmers are being promoted and made in high tech irrigation to “SAVE WATER”

• But in many cases – the actual impacts are:

– Increased water consumption – although possibly with lower diversions and return flows/groundwater recharge

– Increased farm production (increased yield and/or increased cropped area)

– Possibly reduced energy consumption

– Reduced labour costs

AND THE SNAKE OIL

• Large investments by government and farmers are being promoted and made in high tech irrigation to “SAVE WATER”

• But in many cases – the actual impacts are:

– Increased water consumption – although possibly with lower diversions and return flows/groundwater recharge

– Increased farm production (increased yield and/or increased cropped area)

– Possibly reduced energy consumption

– Reduced labour costs

1996

2014

Challenges for Agricultural Water Management

Irrigation and Agricultural Water Management

Purely Rainfed Production Fully Irrigated

CURRENT (on-going) CHALLENGES

• Underperformance in both rain-fed and irrigated systems

• Low investment in hydraulic infrastructure and in the

development and management of water resources

• Inappropriate governance and institutional arrangements in

public irrigation schemes

• Impact of climate change on water resources

• Inadequate investment in irrigation R&D, CapDev, data

collection, analysis and dissemination to guide decision

making.

IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE

• Requires:

– strengthening links between main system and

farmers' fields.

– problems identified by Chambers, Cernea in

1980s – Rent Seeking still a critical issue as poor

services results in:

• Expansion of groundwater use and local storage

• Poor cost recovery, etc, etc

Different farmers have different needs

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• Improving AWM will impact the rural community – not just farmers –support for transformation must include increasing off-farm employment.

Farm SizeFarmer orientation

Subsistence Semi-commercial Commercial

Small XXX X X

Medium XXX XX

Large XX XXX

Definitions: Irrigation Efficiency:

• Defined: estimated water requirement (m3) relative to water applied or withdrawn (m3) from a source.

• Application: to assess “losses” in the distribution, conveyance, and application of irrigation water.

• Appropriate for:

o Farm-scale irrigation investment and management decisions

o Design of irrigation conveyance and application systems

o “real-time” M&E of irrigation system operational performance

• Limitations:

o Does not account for the capture and reuse of water within broader hydrologic systems (e.g., basins)

o Can lead to incorrect water allocation and investment decisions, faulty public policy at the basin scale

Definitions: Irrigation Efficiency:

• Defined: estimated water requirement (m3) relative to water applied or withdrawn (m3) from a source.

• Application: to assess “losses” in the distribution, conveyance, and application of irrigation water.

• Appropriate for:

o Farm-scale irrigation investment and management decisions

o Design of irrigation conveyance and application systems

o “real-time” M&E of irrigation system operational performance

• Limitations:

o Does not account for the capture and reuse of water within broader hydrologic systems (e.g., basins)

o Can lead to incorrect water allocation and investment decisions, faulty public policy at the basin scale

• Defined: Output (in kg, $, or kcal) in relation to water use (in terms of water withdrawn, applied or consumed).

• Application: To assess water allocation including accounting for:

o Multiple sources of water

o Multiple scales

o Multiple, sequential (re)use within a basin.

• Appropriate for:

o Water allocation decisions between uses (basin and farm scale)

o Post-season performance assessment of irrigated agriculture

• Limitations:

o Not applicable for operational management decisions

o More complex to evaluate

Definitions: Water productivity:

Molden 1997

• Defined: Output (in kg, $, or kcal) in relation to water use (in terms of water withdrawn, applied or consumed).

• Application: To assess water allocation including accounting for:

o Multiple sources of water

o Multiple scales

o Multiple, sequential (re)use within a basin.

• Appropriate for:

o Water allocation decisions between uses (basin and farm scale)

o Post-season performance assessment of irrigated agriculture

• Limitations:

o Not applicable for operational management decisions

o More complex to evaluate

Definitions: Water productivity:

Molden 1997

MODERNIZATION IS THE:

“Process of upgrading infrastructure, operations and management of irrigation and drainage systems to sustain the water delivery service requirements of farmersand optimize production and water productivity.”

Source: - Lance Gore, Arnaud Cauchois (ADB), Beau Freeman, Mike Chegwin (Lahmeyer), Ian Makin (IWMI), September 2015

MODERNIZATION IS THE:

“Process of upgrading infrastructure, operations and management of irrigation and drainage systems to sustain the water delivery service requirements of farmersand optimize production and water productivity.”

Source: - Lance Gore, Arnaud Cauchois (ADB), Beau Freeman, Mike Chegwin (Lahmeyer), Ian Makin (IWMI), September 2015

ABCDE+F Framework for analysis of water management (Perry.

2013):

A. Accounting for the available resources

B. Bargaining through political process to determine priorities and

allocations

C. Codification of the agreed priorities and allocations into rules,

statutes and laws

D. Delegation of implementation to appropriate institutions and agencies

E. Engineering to create the necessary infrastructure to deliver the

agreed services

F. Feedback or the cycle of policy and performance adjustment for

elements A to E.

ABCDE+F Framework for analysis of water management (Perry.

2013):

A. Accounting for the available resources

B. Bargaining through political process to determine priorities and

allocations

C. Codification of the agreed priorities and allocations into rules,

statutes and laws

D. Delegation of implementation to appropriate institutions and agencies

E. Engineering to create the necessary infrastructure to deliver the

agreed services

F. Feedback or the cycle of policy and performance adjustment for

elements A to E.

MODERNIZATION OF IRRIGATION SERVICES

• Understand the real constraints – before investing– MASSCOTE – FAO guidelines on modernization of irrigation service:

• What level of water delivery service does the system currently provide?

• What hardware (infrastructure) and software (operational procedures, institutional setup, etc.) features affect this level of service?

• What improvements in the various components could make a significant difference in service delivery to users?

• Manage Irrigation Assets for long-term performance– Current practice tends towards deferred maintenance (build-ignore-

rehabilitate-ignore)

• Expand use of ICT to improve information and decision making

Opportunities for a “suitable career”

41

The way aheadImproving agricultural water management requires:

• Capacity at fields, farms, agencies, suppliers, and ministries;

• Technologies to improve operation of pumps, canals and drains;

• Enhanced management of agricultural water management support services

• Leadership for integrated action and investments

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRRIGATION

• Under-developed and Underutilized water resources

provide huge potential for expansion of area under

irrigation (in SSA)

• Increased demand for high value products responsive to

irrigation

• Renewed public and donor interest in irrigation – Not BAU

• Investors acknowledgement of need for R4D evidence to

guide irrigation investment

• Commitment of governments to SDGs.

IMPROVING IRRIGATION PERFORMANCE

• Solutions will NOT to be found isolated in system O&M, but require:

– New leadership to:

• Set and support clear objectives for system managers and operators

• Eradicate rent-seeking behaviour

• Provide timely resources for operations, maintenance and repairs

• Reward good performance

IMPROVING IRRIGATION PERFORMANCE

• Communicate the challenges and sustainable

solutions to policy makers and political

leaders.

• Make agriculture an attractive and viable

career choice for the next generation of

farmers – irrigation will be an important

component in many places

• “Engineer” sustainable irrigation services

A change in approach

• 'global irrigation compact' (GIC) farmer-led leadership; recognises

strong mutuality between actors, systems and host river basins;

considers new arrangements for system ownership and services; and

rewards improved irrigation .

• Assumptions; a commitment to reform institutions and leadership of

organisations; the establishment of appropriate incentives for agency

staff, farmers and other stakeholders to support change; and the

creation of sufficient provisions for capacity development, training and

research to support the desired changes.

Lankford, B.A.; Makin, I.; Matthews, N.; Noble, A.; McCornick, P.G. and Shah, T. 2016. A compact to revitalise

large-scale irrigation systems using a leadership-partnership-ownership 'theory of change'.Water Alternatives

9(1): 1-14

Why a suitable career for 21st Century

• Irrigation and water resources management is

complicated

• Previous and current practice (expansion) no longer

practical option in many locations

• Feeding over 8 billion people remains a serious

challenge that has huge social and security

dimensions

Why a suitable career for 21st Century

• Irrigation and water resources management is

complicated

• Previous and current practice (expansion) no longer

practical option in many locations

• Feeding over 8 billion people remains a serious

challenge that has huge social and security

dimensions

Ian W Makin

i.makin@cgiar.org

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Visit: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/

Thank You