Resource information
Most of the large rice irrigation systems in Southeast Asia have been designed for rice irrigation under a supply-driven mode. Despite their huge contribution to agricultural production, there is a general consensus that these large rice irrigation systems have not lived up to expectations because of a legacy of poor institutional arrangements and system design, degraded infrastructure, poor management and stagnation in the face of rapid transformations of agriculture and pressures on their water supply. To respond to these shortcomings and to meet new challenges, multiple options and systematic approaches are needed in terms of strategy, institutions, financing, technology and international cooperation to transform large rice irrigation systems in Southeast Asia from supply-driven to demand-driven responsive systems, to improve their water service in terms of reliability, equity, flexibility and multiple uses, to enable farmers to boost agricultural and water productivity, to be more responsive to market opportunities and to contribute to environmental sustainability. Convened in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam from 26 to 28 October 2005, this workshop discussed three critical questions whose answers could determine the way that large rice-based irrigation systems will evolve over the next 20 to 25 years, namely: how will agriculture and rice production evolve in Southeast Asia? What changes will be required in irrigation service provision by the large rice-based irrigation systems? How will ongoing and expected reforms and investment programmes measure up against the projected needs of the region? This proceedings is a collection of the workshop papers and outcomes. It offers a useful reference work to professionals, researchers and government decision-makers on sustainable agriculture, water management and irrigation modernization.
