CGIAR April 23 2024

Water management is still key in the setting where water resources are abundant, like Laos.

Water management for irrigated agriculture was discussed to enhance irrigation efficiencies in the first stakeholder forum of the year 2024 on 20 March 2024 in Vientiane Capital, Laos. The results of the irrigation sub-sector review conducted in 2018/19, was used as inputs for the discussion, in addition the Irrigation Development Plan from 2024-2025 and Vision to 2030 of the Department of Irrigation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

One of the key challenges associated with efficiency in irrigation utilization included demotivation of rice farmers to utilize irrigated water for rice cultivation during the dry season due to high cost of electricity for water pumping and low price of paddy. This emergent challenge affected overall contribution of irrigation to intensify agricultural practice in Laos.

Another nascent phenomenon was part of urbane expansion causing converting agricultural/irrigated land into other land types, i.e. constructions. The issue seems not to be new in other urban development settings. The national research team of CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS) also learned a concern on underlying effects may incurred on food production, from their key information interviews prior to the event.

A low capacity of relevant public agencies to maintain functionalization of irrigation schemes and strengthen farmer organizations to take a lead in managing and maintaining irrigation schemes was a common development challenge and needed to be comprehensively addressed. This chronic matter affected the intensification practice and the efficient utilization of irrigation.

Key recommendations to cope with these challenges were as follows:

• - Capacity building – strengthen operation and maintenance of public agencies as well as adequate deployment of local officials with irrigation professions to in-charge existing irrigation projects. The capacity building should be expanded to water use groups and other farmer organizations.
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• - Cross-sectoral cooperation in a broader integrate water resource management – enhance efficiency in irrigation utilization for different agricultural crops, fisheries and livestock and water management for irrigation and water use for other economic activities, i.e. hydropower among relevant ministries (MAF, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Energy and Mines).
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• - Sources of financial support and incentives – these were recommended as food-for-thoughts to establish funds for operation and maintenance of irrigation facilities and government subsidy for associated energy cost of irrigation operation.
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More details of the stakeholder forum are available at https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141486 and relevant podcast on NPS’ study findings  https://rss.com/podcasts/policypathways/1427227/

See https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/stakeholder-forum-of-the-sub-sector-working-group-on-irrigation-20-march-2024-vientiane-laos-pdr/