Is irrigation sustainable? An approach to sustainable international irrigation development

Abstract

Canada has been assisting several developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to implement irrigation development projects. The types of projects include: irrigation, drainage and flood control of agricultural lands. Assistance has varied from the supply of technical assistance to infrastructure development, training, and on-farm improvements. Program orientation has been changing over the last two decades reflecting international development priorities, policy changes, emerging needs of developing countries and changes in technology. Sustainability of irrigation development will depend to an increasing extent on adequately addressing the environmental, economic, cultural, social and political issues, and integrating these with the available technology. This will cause more emphasis to be placed on salinity and waterlogging control, flood management, small farmer irrigation schemes, more farmer managed schemes, and a higher level of participation by farmers in the planning, design, construction operation and maintenance of those schemes. Soil and water conservation schemes aimed at reducing soil degradation and increasing the efficiency of irrigation utilization will receive higher priority. © 1991 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.