A watershed is an area that supplies water by surface or subsurface flow to a drainage system or body of water. Watersheds vary from a few hectares to thousands of square kilometers. Watershed management...
Irrigation has been vital to agricultural gains in the last half century. But demand for food continues to rise as the world's population increases and economic progress allows more people to eat better...
Agricultural water has, in the past, been seen as a prime mechanism for fostering economic growth and reducing rural poverty, and agricultural water investments demonstrated particular success during the...
Growth in agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa is vital to poverty reduction and to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as emphasized in the World Development Report 2008:...
The objective of this paper is to identify the possible role and opportunities for the private sector to participate with governments and farmers in developing and managing irrigation and drainage (I&D)...
Of the projected 1 billion growth in global population by 2015, 88 percent will take place in cities, nearly all of it in developing countries. Investments in urban water supply and sewerage coverage are...
Smallholder irrigated horticulture has proven to be a viable and attractive option for poor farmers in developing countries. This paper relates two important lessons learned: low-cost productive technologies...
This Note outlines a larger report describing the changing context of demand and supply for agricultural water. It identifies the policy, institutional, and incentive reform options that will accelerate...
This Note is based on the report, "Shaping the Future of Water for Agriculture: A Sourcebook for Investment in Agricultural Water Management," which presents a range of solutions and good practices from...
Conjunctive water use refers to simultaneous use of surface water and groundwater to meet crop demand. This Note concludes that to optimize conjunctive use of water, the best way forward is to concentrate...
Improved water management practices and trade in "virtual water" can help alleviate water scarcity, release water for more efficient uses, increase productivity, and ultimately reduce food prices for consumers...
Drought is a normal part of climate for virtually every country. This paper notes that in response, a risk-based management approach is more cost effective because it emphasizes improved monitoring and...
The overall goal of this report is to give strategic focus to implementation of the agricultural water management (AWM) components of the corporate strategies. Its specific objectives are to set out the...