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Breathing New Life into Asia’s Irrigation
An ADB-commissioned research project calls for reviving Asia’s ageing irrigation systems to boost agricultural productivity in preparation for an impending food crisis, with the region’s population expected to swell to 5 billion in 2050. This issue of Water for All News takes off from the key messages and recommendations of the new report “Revitalizing Asia’s Irrigation,” and features the strategies needed to squeeze the most out of irrigation investments. The reconstruction of irrigation systems in post-tsunami Indonesia is also revisited, with an in-depth look at farmers’ roles in the rebuilding of their communities and their lives. Finally, the issue takes a quick look into ADB’s irrigation investments through the years and how current irrigation projects are helping to achieve food security in the region.
Indonesia has made significant progress in introducing participatory irrigation management (PIM), but it was not to happen in a day. “PIM thrives in a decentralized environment, characterized by democracy, transparency, and good governance. Both the government and farmers need to understand this,” PIM expert Minanto says.
For more than 25 years, Minanto has been pushing for greater participation of farmers and communities in managing Indonesia’s irrigation systems.
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Study Impels Urgent Irrigation Reforms
A new study calls for the revival of irrigated agriculture to feed Asia’s ballooning population. What innovative financing strategies does the study recommend to unlock irrigation’s potential gains?
Farmers Rebuild Aceh’s Irrigation
Four years since a tsunami engulfed Aceh, farmers have finished rebuilding irrigation systems covering over 50,000 hectares. Now they are ready to begin life anew and harvest their first crops since the disaster.
ADB’s Current Irrigation Projects
ADB’s Water Financing Program targets 40 million people with more productive and efficient irrigation and drainage services. What is ADB doing in terms of investments and achieving results?
Australian water consortium joins KnowledgeHubs
The International WaterCentre, a consortium of four leading Australian universities, South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership and International Riverfoundation, joins the KnowledgeHubs of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum as hub for healthy rivers and aquatic ecosystems. A launch ceremony was held on 4 November in Brisbane. About KnowledgeHubs | About Asia-Pacific Water Forum
New sanitation data book stresses priority actions for Asia
Initiate city sanitation plans and simplify institutional arrangements. A new “Asian Sanitation Data Book” recommends these and other actions, to ensure improved access to sanitation in more rapid and efficient ways. The book features raw data and analyses of the sanitation situation in 27 cities. Download PDF | Get a copy | See related event
The World Toilet Summit and Expo 2009 on 2-4 December in Singapore has set a US$1 trillion price tag on sanitation and will explore creative approaches to tap into this emerging market. ADB supports the summit and is taking the lead in a Financing Sanitation plenary session on 4 December.
Kyrgyz Republic: ADB supports project to preserve Lake Issyk-Kul
Kyrgyz Republic’s Issyk-Kul, the world’s second largest saline lake, will benefit from ADB’s Issyk-Kul Sustainable Development Project. ADB’s Vijay Padmanabhan said, “Through the project, infrastructure and quality of urban services in the region will improve, public health will improve, and the lake's environment will be preserved.” View project details
Nepal: ADB pilot project to beef up irrigated agriculture Nepal’s irrigation systems suffer from underperformance, especially because of poor linkages between irrigation and agriculture. An ongoing water pilot study is evaluating the potential of establishing multifunctional water users associations to better manage irrigation, agriculture, and livelihood enhancement activities. More pilot projects | Apply
Philippines: ADB backs up sanitation symposium
A Philippine Symposium on Sustainable Sanitation, organized by the Philippine Ecosan Network on 15-16 October in Makati City, will provide inputs for the planning of the East Asia Ministerial Conference on Sanitation 2 in January 2010. ADB presented sustainable approaches and financing modalities in model sanitation projects.
Philippines: ADB pledges $3M for flood victims
An ADB US$3M pledge will provide clean water and other essentials to about 800,000 families affected by Typhoon Ondoy, which inundated the Philippine capital on 26 September. ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said, “The Philippines is ADB’s home, and we are dedicated to helping flood-affected families through this unimaginably difficult time.” Read related story
Philippines: Experts shed light on Ondoy Flooding
An ADB seminar on 14 October gathered experts to talk about Manila's disaster risks and vulnerabilities, following the Ondoy flooding in September. Representatives from government, academe, and partner organizations agreed that the volume of rainfall was unprecedented and offered views on needed actions to reduce disaster risks.
Samoa: ADB provides $1M for tsunami victims
ADB is providing $1M to support relief efforts in Samoa after a devastating tsunami hit the islands on 29 September. Funds will be used to supply affected people with food, clean water, clothing, medical supplies and other essentials. About 20% of Samoa’s 181,000 people are affected. Read related story
Sri Lanka: ADB $100M loan to improve neglected wastewater system
Colombo’s old and limited public sewerage system will soon get an upgrade. An ADB US$100M loan will fund a large-scale wastewater management project for the Greater Colombo Area that will upgrade existing sewerage infrastructure, strengthen government and wastewater utility capacity, and support project management and implementation. View project details
Uzbekistan: ADB to extend $300M for water, sanitation overhaul
ADB’s US$300M multitranche financing package to Uzbekistan will overhaul an ageing water and sanitation systems to benefit some 3 million people. The 9-year program supports the government’s push to deliver safe water and expand the sanitation coverage to the urban and rural population within the next decade. View project details
Asia needs major irrigation reforms, says this new report that lays out the considerable challenges, options, and scenarios to feed Asia, whose population is expected to expand by 1.5 billion in 2050. Download PDF
Increased water demand and water conflicts occur in many Asian countries. A new report, aimed to raise awareness and capacity, presents guidelines and solutions to water rights and allocation issues. Download PDF | Get a copy
Discussing the impact of agriculture technology innovations in South Asia’s rice-wheat system, this new book can help guide farmers to produce more food at less cost and improve water productivity. Download PDF | Get a copy
| 4-6 Nov | Launch of Knowledge Hub on Healthy Rivers and Aquatic Ecosystems (Brisbane, Australia) |
| 4 Nov | First International Conference on Solid Waste Management and Exhibition on Municipal Services, Urban Development and Public Works (Kolkata, India) |
| 23 Nov | International Conference on ‘Water-Harvesting, Storage and Conservation’ (IIT Kanpur, India) |
| 2-4 Dec | World Toilet Summit and Expo (Suntec, Singapore) |
| 2 Dec | 3rd World Aqua Congress (New Delhi, India) |
| 13 Dec | National Conference on Urban Water Management: Challenges and Options (Bangalore, India) |
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