*EPF522 03/21/2003
Text: World Officials Urge More Investment in Water Management
(Say it would help reduce poverty, U.S. food agency reports) (780)

More investment in water-related infrastructure and research is needed to achieve world food security and poverty reduction objectives, say officials responsible for water and agriculture from more than 40 countries.

In a March 21 press release, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that officials meeting at the Third Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, called for the sustainable development and improved management of agricultural rain-fed and irrigated water resources.

The forum ending March 23 coincides with World Water Day, March 22, with the theme: "Water for the Future." The U.S. delegation to the forum is being led by Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky.

Many developing countries already experience water scarcity and competition for water among various users, the release said.

"The international community and the countries concerned need to make improved agricultural water management a political and financial priority," said Jacques Diouf, FAO director-general.

The forum was called to focus on the international agreed development goal of halving by 2015 the number of people living without safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

The officials' recommendations will be submitted as input to the forum's final declaration, according to the release.

Following is the text of FAO's press release:

(begin text)

Improving Agricultural Water Use Is Essential to Fight Hunger and Poverty

Ministers from more than 40 countries call for increased investment in rural water management

FAO Director-General: better water harvesting and irrigation could reduce Africa's dependence on food aid

21 March 2003, Washington/Kyoto, Japan -- Improving the sustainable development and management of water for agriculture is essential to meet the world's growing demand for food, enhance food security and alleviate poverty.

This statement was made today on the eve of World Water Day by a conference of more than 40 ministers and officials, responsible for water for food and agriculture.

The ministerial meeting took place during the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto and was jointly organized by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The ministerial recommendations will be submitted to the World Water Forum as an input to the Forum's final declaration.

The ministers responsible for water for food and agriculture emphasized that "achieving the objectives of food security and poverty alleviation will require the mobilization of all sources of financing and increased investment in water-related infrastructure, research and development in order to create new opportunities for the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources."

In particular, the ministerial conference called for:

-- the sustainable development and management of water resources in rain fed and irrigated agriculture;

-- the modernization of irrigation schemes and the transition to a more demand-oriented water management;

-- a substantial increase of agricultural productivity through appropriate regulations and socially feasible cost-recovery mechanisms, capacity-building and institutional reforms, which are adapted to local conditions;

-- the improved governance of agricultural water use through integrated, efficient and equitable water resources management, involving the participation of all users, particularly women and the poor;

-- research and development, including traditional knowledge;

-- international cooperation, financial and technical assistance, and the public-private partnerships in agricultural water development and management.

In his keynote address, FAO Director-General Dr Jacques Diouf said: "Investment in small scale irrigation, rural infrastructure and market access will be vital for any success in the fight against hunger and poverty. The international community and the countries concerned need to make improved agricultural water management a political and financial priority."

"Over the past decades, the development of rural water has been neglected. We need massive investment in agriculture which is the biggest consumer of water," he said.
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"If we do not support, for example, the African countries by investing in low-cost, small-scale water-harvesting, irrigation and drainage in the poor rural communities, we will be annually pouring, as this year, hundreds of millions of dollars in food aid to avoid starvation in Africa," Dr Diouf said.
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In many developing countries, water is already scarce and the competition for water from industrial and domestic users is intensifying. FAO estimates that by 2030, one in five developing countries will be suffering actual or impending water scarcity.

"Efficient and effective water management in agriculture will generate the income for improved rural livelihood," Dr Diouf said. "It is only under such conditions, that the development of health and education, and also the protection of the environment, will be ensured sustainably."

The 3rd World Water Forum will end on Sunday, 23 March 2003.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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