Securing a Water Future for All

Afternoon Seminar

Event Summary and Conclusions

The afternoon session covered two themes: Ensuring Sufficient Water for Food and Promoting Effective Basin Water Management.

Discussion on the water for food segment revolved around a recent study by the International Water Management Institute on the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (2007), which showed that Asia will not have enough water to produce food for a growing population over the next 50 years unless certain interventions are made. Increasing population and changes in diet will drive water demands higher. Changes in the policy agenda for water management—ones that ensure food security and protection of the ecosystem—will be needed. Recommended solutions vary from infrastructure needs in Africa to maximizing the use of infrastructure in Asia by focusing on productivity, reallocating supplies and rehabilitating ecosystems.

Panel members from Indonesia’s BAPPENAS and ADB covered various issues, including the value of water in agriculture and other uses, the challenges of securing payment for irrigation services, and approaches to increasing water productivity in agriculture necessary to feed Asia’s expanding population.  Concluding that the situation is not all bad, the group highlighted the need to improve communication with political leaders and decision makers, continue investments in research and extension to increase water productivity, and make better and safer use of the increased wastewater resources in agriculture.

The basin water segment showcased three (3) cases featuring different aspects of river management. The first case focused on Indonesia’s Citarum basin, where integrated water resources management (IWRM) is currently being introduced with the support of ADB’s Multitranche Financing Facility. The second case was on the Chu Talas basin where ADB has supported strengthening the operation of a trans-boundary commission to operate the basin for the benefit of the riparian nations, Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan. The final case was on the challenges of sustaining an IWRM approach in the Mekong basin, where accelerated, largely private sector development, including hydropower and plantation agriculture or forestry, is currently taking place.

A panelist from Vietnam’s National Mekong Committee noted the pressure felt by many basins to accelerate development of water resources for hydropower and food production concluding that good decisions can only be made when an integrated assessment of the threats and opportunities of such developments are made in the context of the entire basin. Plans for the Citarum basin illustrate the challenge of achieving such coordinated planning involving multiple agencies to work together; such difficulties are magnified when river basin planning includes international dimensions particularly when the river transcends countries’ territorial boundaries. Discussions on mechanisms for resolution of disputes between sectors and nations sharing a basin’s resources, and the concepts of benefit- sharing between upstream and downstream populations were made and drawing from experience of the Mekong River Basin.

Seminar Programme         13:30-17:00, Room K1