Ni Komang Erviani, Nusa Dua, Bali

At least 1,400 participants are attending the 3^rd World Irrigation Forum, held at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in conjunction with the 70^th International Executive Council Meeting.

The international event kicked off on Sept. 1 and will run through Sept. 7.

The World Irrigation Forum brings together stakeholders involved in irrigation from multiple disciplines and at all scales, including policymakers, experts, research institutions, nongovernmental organizations and farmers.

The forum was jointly opened on Monday by Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) president Felix B. Reinders, World Water Council president Loic Fauchon and Bali Vice Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati.

“This forum reminds me of six years ago in Mardin, Turkey, when I was elected as one of the ICID vice presidents for 2013 to 2016. At that time, the forum of the International Executive Council annual meeting also coincided with the 1st World Irrigation Forum,” Basuki Hadimuljono said, adding, “we have been facing various challenges over the last six years.”

Six years ago, Basuki said, “our focus was on irrigation and drainage in a changing world, a challenge and opportunity for global food security. Three years ago, he added, we scaled up the focus on water management in a changing world, formulizing the role of irrigation for sustainable food production. “And now, our focus is the development of water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment,” Basuki emphasized.

Basuki said that all the evolution had occurred in response to future challenges:  Food production must be doubled by 2050 to meet the demand of the world’s growing population, while land and water availability is becoming constrained. “We need a robust and innovative strategy to combat hunger and to end rural poverty. I hope this forum will generate new ideas, bring solutions and stimulate actions for a better future of secured water and food supply,” he said.

“It is an excellent opportunity to exchange and share experiences, technology and ideas to promote sustainable development through irrigation and drainage,” ICID president Felix B. Reinders said.

World Water Council president Loic Fauchon expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian authority for hosting the event. “Thanks to the authority in this country and this province for the hospitality, for the courtesy and professionalism,” he said.

Director General of Water Resources Ministry of Public Works and Housing Hari Suprayogi said hosting the international forum was a great opportunity for Indonesia. “To be the host of this event, we have to bid and win the vote. It was not an easy thing to win the bidding,” he said.

Hari emphasized that the forum greatly benefited all participants, including Indonesia as the host. “In this forum, we discuss and share experience among all participants from all over the world. We can show our breakthrough program on modernized irrigation, and see other countries’ breakthrough programs. We learn many things from other participants from other countries,” he added.

During the event, bilateral meetings were also held to speed up irrigation modernization programs and other water-related programs across the country. Citing an example, Hari said the meeting with the World Bank had agreed to speed up several ongoing projects in Bali, such as strategic irrigation modernization and urgent rehabilitation projects, as well as dam operation improvement and safety projects.

Held every three years, the forum provides a platform for the world irrigation community and interested development professionals to find solutions to problems plaguing irrigated agriculture, in times of depleting freshwater resources as a result of global warming and climate change. The forum also gathers a wide range of experts from various fields to discuss important issues highlighted.

The World Irrigation Forum stimulates and promotes multidisciplinary discussions on sustainable solutions to water management in agriculture through an exchange of the latest irrigation and drainage policies, practices, innovations and technologies, exploring and formulating concrete interdisciplinary proposals; development of liaison, collaboration among various national, international institutions, organizations, private sector working for irrigated agriculture; and advocacy for political commitments.

This year’s forum carries the theme “development for water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment”. An exhibition, held to enliven the event, showcased products and services in the field of service operation in various areas, such as water resources management, constructing and operating contractors, and water resources.

Established in 1950, the ICID is a leading scientific, technical, international not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization. The ICID is a professional network of experts from across the world in the field of irrigation, drainage and flood management. The main mission is to promote “sustainable agriculture water management” to achieve a “water secure world free of poverty and hunger through sustainable rural development’.

Indonesia is one of the eleven countries that established the ICID in 1950. But only until around 1970 could the country participate more regularly in ICID activities.

In 1972, the then-director general of water resources development of Indonesia, DR Suyono Sosrodarsono, served as the vice president of the ICID (1972-1975). A minute of silence was held during the forum to honor the late Suyono Sosrodarsono who died weeks ago.

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