Agriculture

Globally, the agricultural sector consumes about 70% of the planet’s accessible freshwater. Because water is vital for the success of agriculture, proper water management techniques are necessary to meet food and fiber material demands around the world. Resources available here pay special attention to efficient irrigation and sustainable agriculture techniques.

Browse by resource type

Agriculture Resources

Predicting Water Availability in Irrigation Tank Cascade Systems: The Cascade Water Balance Model

Published: 
January 1, 2001
U.S. Agency for International Development
This report presents "Cascade", a water balance model that can predict tank water availability in the Thirappane tank cascade system in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The model determines tank water availability on a daily basis for the purpose of improving productive use of the water...Read more
Regional focus: 
Sri LankaSouth East Asia

Valuing Water in Irrigated Agriculture and Reservoir Fisheries: A Multiple-Use Irrigation System in Sri Lanka

Published: 
January 1, 2001
U.S. Agency for International Development
Decision makers often lack information on the relative economic contributions of water for both irrigation and non-irrigation uses, resulting in inefficient and inequitable water allocation decisions. to help address this problem, the present report examines the relative economic contributions of...Read more
Regional focus: 
Sri LankaSouth East Asia

Alternate Wet/Dry Irrigation in Rice Cultivation: A Practical Way to Save Water and Control Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis

Published: 
January 1, 2001
U.S. Agency for International Development
Due to increasing scarcity of freshwater resources that are available for irrigated agriculture, in the future it will be necessary to produce more food with less water. More irrigated land is devoted to rice than any other crop. One method to save water in irrigated rice cultivation is the...Read more
Regional focus: 
South East Asia

Pedaling Out of Poverty: Social Impact of a Manual Irrigation Technology in South Asia

Published: 
January 1, 2000
U.S. Agency for International Development
This report reviews evidence from a variety of studies - designed to test claims and regarding treadle pump technology and concludes that it does self-select the poor, and can result in much higher crop yields.Read more
Regional focus: 
South East Asia

Groundwater Markets in Pakistan: Participation and Productivity

Published: 
January 1, 1996
U.S. Agency for International Development
This study is part of a multifaceted study of agricultural production and rural poverty in Pakistan. Water markets provide one of the most promising institutional mechanisms for increasing access to irrigation from groundwater, particularly for tenants and small farmers in South Asia. This...Read more
Regional focus: 
PakistanSouth East Asia

Institutional Framework for Irrigation: Proceedings of a Workshop, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 1-5 November 1993

Published: 
November 1, 1995
U.S. Agency for International Development
Document outlines a key event in a sequence of workshops and seminars in Langkawi, Malaysia, of senior officials, from many departments concerned with irrigated agriculture and its consequences. A common theme at the meetings was the question of institutions. Leaders of the irrigated agriculture...Read more
Regional focus: 
South East Asia

Audit of International Irrigation Management Institute's Indirect Costs

Published: 
October 1, 1995
U.S. Agency for International Development
The audit covered the period from January 1, 1989 through December 31, 1984. During this period, IIMI reported that it received a total of $316,856 for indirect costs from USAID. The audit objective was to determine whether the indirect costs claimed by IIMI are in accordance with the terms of the...Read more
Regional focus: 
Sri LankaSouth East Asia

Methodology for Participatory Evaluation of O&M in Distributary and Field Canals

Published: 
July 1, 1995
U.S. Agency for International Development
During a tour of d- and f- canals, the Managing Director of MEA requested MARD to propose a low cost method of evaluating the state of tertiary system maintenance in System B. MARD's staff worked for several months, in consultation with MEA engineers and farmers' organizations, developing...Read more
Regional focus: 
Sri LankaSouth East Asia

Warabandi in Pakistan's Canal Irrigation Systems: Widening Gap between Theory and Practice

Published: 
January 1, 1995
U.S. Agency for International Development
IIMI's Country Papers comprise a series of papers for each country where IIMI maintains a collaborating field operations activity. These papers record the results of research conducted by IIMI's Country Programs in consultation with their National Consultative Committees. Read more
Regional focus: 
PakistanSouth East Asia

Practices for Year-round Irrigation in Mahaweli System B

Published: 
December 1, 1994
U.S. Agency for International Development
System 'B' farmers have a relatively dry period of ten months from Jan. to Oct. where non-rice crops can be successfully grown. Thus, they have an opportunity to get the highest price available in the market by scheduling planting to suit market windows. Further, they can undertake to...Read more
Regional focus: 
Sri LankaSouth East Asia

Don't see what you're looking for? You can search USWP member sites, request a resource, or contact the USWP.