International Conference on “Efficient Water Management and Climate Change Response Applying Information and Communication Technology in ASEAN Countries” Held at the Vietnam Institute of Water Resources

9 September 2024 -

On 9 and 10 September, the Vietnam Institute of Water Resources (VAWR) held the International Conference, titled “Efficient Water Management and Climate Change Response Applying Information and Communication Technology in ASEAN Countries.” This conference was held as the framework of the Project “Efficiency Enhancement of Regional Irrigation Water Management in Gravity Irrigation System,” supported by JAIF.

The attendees of this conference were as follows:

– Mr. Nguyen Hong Khanh, Deputy Director of Water Resources Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam (MARD),

– Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Hoa, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Water Resources (VAWR), Viet Nam,

– Dr MATSUBARA Eiji, President, Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry (JAICAF),

– Mr NAGAI Hiroshi, CEO, Farmo CO. Ltd., the Japanese ICT company that provides ICT equipment for the project,

– Mr TANAKA Yusuke, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam,

– Mr YAMAURA Kiyotaka, JICA Advisor for Agricultural Policy, MARD,

– Mr KAWAMOTO Yosuke, First Secretary, Mission of Japan to ASEAN,

– The guests from the government and institutes from 10 countries from ASEAN and Timor Leste and Japan.

ASEAN countries aim to disseminate new, sustainable technologies to improve the efficiency use of water resource. Telemetry for Irrigation Water Management (TM) systems are often applied in reservoirs and irrigation canals to manage irrigation water. The high cost of installing and operating TM systems hinders the promotion of TM systems in ASEAN member countries. Therefore, the conference was organized for the aim of sharing experiences to the use of the latest, accurate and low-cost TM systems, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in paddy field by utilizing ICT, which will contribute to effective water management, increase productivity and minimize the impact of climate change in ASEAN member countries.

At the opening of the conference, Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Hoa, VAWR, emphasized the importance of integrating technology for comprehensive water resource management, particularly in irrigation management systems. He noted that monitoring hydrometeorological data and developing redundant software is crucial for modernizing irrigation practices, enhancing water efficiency, and adapting to climate change. He hopes the workshop will provide valuable insights for ASEAN member countries. Mr. Nguyen Hong Khanh, MARD, also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of VARD and ASEAN countries, supported by Japan. He expressed the expectation that the workshop would facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation in science and technology, ultimately promoting sustainable development.

19 scientific reports from various countries were presented, and visited 2 sites in the field during the conference. The participants exchanged issues of effective irrigation water management, agriculture adapting to climate change, monitoring irrigation water management utilizing ICT, etc.

As one of the project outputs, the “Manual for Telemetry for Irrigation Water Management Equipment, System, Data analysis, Operation and Maintenance” was published. The manual is accessible through this link.

Click here for more information about the project in VAWR.