Today, across Africa, through the untiring efforts of organizations like Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, the African Union, African Development Bank and many other development partners, small family farms are entering a renaissance period in Africa’s agriculture where they are powered by more options in the seeds they plant, fertilizers they use, and markets available to purchase their produce. However, the progress on providing the most important input, water, has been a bit muted. In this inspiring new future farmers resilience against the increasingly frequent drought situations has to be enhanced by providing water security through irrigation services. Or else, the agriculture becomes a gamble.
ICID community has to self-appropriate its role in African Green Revolution. Accordingly, ICID at the 4th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ARCID4) held in Aswan, Egypt from 26-28 April 2016, decided to prepare a Position Paper on African Green Revolution and how the ICID community could play its designated role through its National Committees (NCs). At the Conference, a questionnaire was shared among NCs. Based on the response to the questionnaire, a Position Paper would be prepared by the African Regional Working Group (AFRWG) for discussion at Chiang Mai in November 2016 before presenting it to the 67th IEC. Interest of NCs would be best served by providing timely response to this questionnaire.
I had the occasion to be part of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Land Reclamation and Development in Russia, which has significantly contributed to the global fight against hunger. The celebrations were organized from 2-3 June 2016 at Moscow. While sharing the ICID Vision 2030, I impressed upon the ICID community in Russia to share their vast experience in this field to fight against hunger. I firmly believe that Russia continues to be characterized by a massive move towards knowledge based and more modernized land reclamation and development practices. I invited RUCID to make use of the platforms such as International Research Program and Irrigation and Drainage (IRPID), and Technical Support Unit (TSU) for dissemination of the knowledge. On behalf of ICID, I offered to facilitate any such initiative from the Russian government.
As you all are aware IRPID’s mission is to enhance research activities on science, technology, and management aspects of irrigation and drainage within the member countries. Two regional nodes, one in Iran and another in China have been established. A stakeholder’s workshop of the Iran Centre of IRPID is proposed to be organized later in August 2016. I encourage NCs to organize themselves and support this program by conducting collaborative research organized by these regional nodes.
In order to turn our vision of a ‘Water secure world free of hunger and poverty’ into a reality, we need to keep infusing the experience and wisdom of our experts with enthusiasm and entrepreneurship of Young Professionals in the irrigation and drainage sector. Over the years ICID has been making efforts in a small way and has been partially successful in getting young brigade on board. It was heartening to see the enthusiasm of the Young Professionals from Africa participating in the training program organized preceding ARCID4.
However, much more needs to be done in this direction. Taking a technological turn, ICID has now established an ICID Young Professionals e-Forum (IYPeF) as a Linked in group. The e-Forum will have e-discussions on three important topics in the context of irrigation and drainage:Adopting Geospatial technologies; Education and training; and Role of Women. These topics will be discussed on e-Forum during the next three months. The voice of Youth from this e-Forum would serve as input to the deliberations at WIF2. The Young Professionals actively and effectively participating in and putting across their view would get chance to personally represent IYPeF at the 2nd World Irrigation Forum (WIF2), Chiang Mai, in November 2016. I urge all the NCs to encourage their young professionals to join this e-Forum and participate actively in the discussions.
I encourage all NCs to take advantage of various initiatives, we have undertaken together and make use of the network of partners’. I also encourage you all to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration for the 2nd World Irrigation Forum, which is open till 31 July 2016.
With regards,
Dr. Saeed Nairizi
President, ICID