Efficiency Enhancement of Regional Irrigation Water Management through Gravity Irrigation System
| Proponent | : | Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Viet Nam and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar |
|---|---|---|
| Implementing Agency | : | Vietnam Academy for Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam; and Irrigation Technology Centre, Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar |
Background
Irrigation water management is a crucial element of agricultural production and plays an important role in food security. Efficient irrigation systems and water management holds the key to reducing the impact of irrigated production on offsite water quantity and quality due to drought, groundwater level depletion and increasing demand on water resources. Most of irrigation water systems in Southeast Asia have been designed for paddy irrigation. Despite their significant contribution to agriculture production, irrigation water management in ASEAN Member States (AMSs) requires system modernization and improved management to avoid improper water distribution between upstream and downstream areas, water scarcity during drought and low crop yield.
Responding to the current needs requires a new and sustainable technologies to properly maintain irrigation water management. Prior to this project, JAIF supported the “Efficiency Enhancement of Regional Irrigation Water Management” implemented in Viet Nam in 2019 to establish and disseminate telemetry (TM) water management network on pump irrigation. The pilot project benefitted all AMSs through the development and dissemination of a manual that was translated into six languages in addition to English, and the training for 63 people involved in local irrigation water management. The TM system introduced in this project is composed of communication module, sensors, and small solar panels which are relatively low-cost and sustainable with spare parts available in the local markets. Real-time data transmission is conducted automatically at every 10 minutes by mobile phone network and cloud computer service. TM data could be obtained by smart phone or tablet at the site.
Building on the achievement of the previous pilot project in Viet Nam, this follow-up project aims to disseminate the technologies of TM network in two (2) different types of irrigation systems which were not covered by the said pilot project.
What is the project aiming for?
The objective of the project is to enhance irrigation water management in AMSs through the following outputs:
- Establishment of two (2) model TM irrigation water management systems (TM systems), namely weir (gate) in Viet Nam and dam system in gravity irrigation in Myanmar;
- Development of irrigation water management and monitoring plan to enhance the efficiency of irrigation; and
- Dissemination of TM systems through implementation of seminar, site visit and TM setting practice and distribution of manuals in seven languages to all AMSs.
We expressed satisfaction on the progress made in the implementation of the Strategic Plan of Food Agriculture and Forestry (SP-FAF) 2016-2025, including the achievement of key deliverables in 2020. In this regard, we noted with satisfaction the progress in the implementation of the key deliverables for the food, agriculture and forestry sector in 2020.
Joint Press Statement
The 42nd Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry
21 October 2020
Cambodia (Video Conference)
The project contributes to ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and Vision and Strategic Plan for ASEAN Cooperation on Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2016-2025) specifically under Strategic Thrust 1 on enhancing sustainable forest management and Strategic Thrust 4 on institutional strengthening and human resources development. This is a two-year project and the first activity, to survey model site and collect baseline data, is scheduled to start early 2021.
As of 30 November 2020
