Capacity building and training strenghtening in Irrigation and Water Resources management

摘要

Agriculture is the sector with the highest worldwide demand for water, and at the same time it is the sector with the highest loss and waste of water. It is therefore imperative to improve water management in order to achieve both high water productivity and higher rural incomes. The use of water for agricultural production in water scarcity regions requires innovative research and an appropriate transfer of technologies. This note summarizes the main actions and measures implemented by the IstitutoAgronomico per rOltremare-IAO (the technical and scientific branch of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in the rural development projects financed by the Italian government in developing countries. It presents the measures adopted in the irrigation and water resources management sector within these projects. All the experienced measures are described in order to highlight the results obtained in meeting this challenge and achieving water security and sustainable development. Moreover, all the measures concerning capacity building, adopted by the IAO at a farm level, are included. In particular, the setting up of pilot plots and/or demonstration farms, the transfer of technology and the training have been successful. The experienced training course, starting with some basic theoretical input and followed by the 'learning by doing' course, has allowed for involving participants with great motivation and satisfaction in the installation of the irrigation system.