Paddy Field Characteristics in Water Use: Experience in Asia - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 234

Productivity Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Commission
on Irrigation and Drainage, International Network on Participatory Irrigation
Management, International Rice Research Institute, International Society of Paddy and
Water Environment Engineering, International Water Management Institute, Mekong
River Commission, World Bank and others.
The INWEPF encourages members to contribute through a variety of activities
including Steering Meetings (SM), Virtual Meetings (VM), workshops, symposiums and
other knowledge exchange and capacity-building activities. The first SM was held in
Japan in November 2004 and the second in Korea in November 2005. The third SM is
expected to be held in Malaysia in 2006. The VM was held in September and October
2005 and the discussion was reported to the second SM. Officials, researchers, academics
and individuals who have knowledge of and experience in water management and
environmental conservation of paddy fields are expected to participate in the activities of
the INWEPF.
In addition to the activities affiliated to the main body of the INWEPF, special
collaboration with existing forums is ongoing, such as the International Conference
“Water for Food and Ecosystems” co-organised by FAO and the Netherlands and held in
the Hague in February 2005; the International Conference organised by the International
Society of Paddy and Water Environment Engineering (PAWEES) in Kyoto in September
2005; and the 19 th Congress hosted by the International Commission on Irrigation and
Drainage in Beijing in September 2005. The INWEPF is preparing to contribute to the
Fourth World Water Forum (WWF4) in Mexico in March 2006.
The INWEPF's second SM concluded that the following INWEPF recognition and
recommendations should be included into a statement to be made in the Ministerial
Conference in WWF4:
Water policy should be made while:
recognising that government-oriented assistance (e.g. financial, legal and educational
services) is essential for investment, rehabilitation and management of water systems
for rice, in order to achieve food security, poverty alleviation and ecosystem
conservation which is difficult to maintain by a market approach;
recognising, evaluating and taking into account the multiple uses, roles and values of
agricultural water for the development and management of water resources; and
basing on, or applying to the long-term, the good experiences and wisdom of local
communities, and their participation.
5. Conclusions and recommendations
5.1 Conclusions of this paper
In the Asian monsoon region, paddy field irrigation is managed using the benefits of
wet environment as much as possible. Paddy rice cultivation in the region with ample
water use has various advantages, which allow continuous cropping of rice on the same
land for hundreds to thousands of years.