Jeremy Bird, IWMIStockholm Water Prize Seminar 2014

Four propositions and a resolution

The Power of Water

Proposition 1: There is water, we are just not managing it well

Agricultural production levels increased…

…as allocation to agriculture reduced and transferred to urban use

Adapting to competing demands – examples of water productivity increases and transfers across sectors exist

Molden et al

Tanzania – from bucket to pump – facilitating entry into the irrigation market

Large scale drip systems are becoming a reality, e.g. Gujarat

Photos, Hamish John Appleby

Proposition 2: Policy coherence is elusive but possible – solutions for groundwater over-abstraction and under-utilization

Source: Tushaar Shah, IWMI

Jyotigram Yojana – solution to a dilemma of perverse subsidies

West Bengal – easing regulatory and cost barriers

• Access to groundwater - a major obstacle

• Reforms reduced red-tape - licensing and connection charges

• Could benefit more than 4.5 million smallholders

Source: Aditi Mukherji, IWMI

Looking forward – solar pumps reduce operating costs

Courtesy Jain Irrigation

Proposition 3: Hydropower development and irrigation can be compatible

…. and, in some cases, can lead to tension

Source: MRC

At basin level, hydropower storage can increase irrigation potential – the Mekong case

Huffington Post

Dry season water levels, Chiang Saen, Mekong, Nov ‘13-May ’14 Source: MRC

At project level, the peaking flows from hydropower projects require re-regulation. Is managed groundwater recharge a possibility?

..or on-farm ponds to provide a storage buffer?

Proposition 4: Dams – the controversy continues, but affected people can also benefit…although not under prevailing development models

Photo, Tom Schauble

Adopt a benefit sharing approach? e.g. Andes experience

Institutional innovations for upstream-downstream benefit sharing: Benefit sharing mechanism (BSM) for Caneta Basin New Law on Payment for Ecosystems Services (PES) in Peru Supporting implementation of BSM in more than 30 new areas

throughout the Andes

Rethinking the use of reservoir drawdown area for livelihoods, Yali Dam, Vietnam Existing crops are at risk of flooding at the end of the season New shorter-duration varieties of cassava suited to reservoir operations Positive results • 32 t/ha (up by 51%); 26% starch (up by 24%); benefit $350-$850/ha

Senaratna Sellamuttu S, IWMI

Photo: Oliver Joffre

Constructed reservoir wetlands – balancing the built -natural environment

Wet season: Reservoir full

Dry season: Reservoir drawn down

Source: Meynell, P-J

Without wetlands With created wetlands

Resolution: Look for what ‘can’ be done, ……..not what ‘must’ be done

Identify political entry points:A common thread of many successful examples has been the people who looked beyond sectors for solutions and found ways within sectors to implement them.

Photos, Hamish John Appleby

For more information: www.iwmi.orgCGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems

http://wle.cgiar.org/