ICARDA News

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.org
29 November 2007
Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG), Ravi R. Prasad (r.prasad@cgiar.org)
 
Workshop on Sustainable Management of Wastewater
Dr Maarten van Ginkel (center), DDG (Research), opens the workshop on 'Sustainable Management of Wastewater for Agricultural Production in Water-Scarce Countries'. Statements were also made at the opening session by (right to left) Dr Frans Huibers of Wageningen University, Dr Liqa Raschid-Sally of IWMI, Mr Mark Redwood of IDRC, and Dr Theib Oweis of ICARDA.
A workshop on 'Sustainable Management of Wastewater for Agricultural Production in Water-Scarce Countries' was held at ICARDA headquarters, 11-15 November. It was jointly organized by ICARDA and IWMI, and funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC) and Wageningen University. The principal objective of the workshop, the first in the 'Bridging Workshop Series,' was to bridge the knowledge gap between advanced research institutions, including CGIAR Centers, and young professionals from developing countries.

Dr Maarten van Ginkel, DDG (Research) of ICARDA, in his opening remarks said that water scarcity is a serious threat in many parts of the world. It is projected that as much as 60% of the global population will suffer from water scarcity by the year 2025. Although agriculture is the dominant user of water, increasing competition for good-quality water among different sectors in water-scarce countries will reduce freshwater allocation to agriculture.

"In order to narrow the gap between freshwater demand and supply in agricultural production systems, the use of non-conventional water resources is widely considered a viable option. One such resource is wastewater generated by the household and industrial and municipal sectors. The re-use of wastewater is important, considering that increasing volumes of wastewater will become the major source of additional water supplies for agriculture in water-scarce countries. However, protection of public health and the environment are the main concerns associated with indiscriminate wastewater irrigation in developing countries. Therefore, there is an urgent need to study how to make best use of this resource," Dr van Ginkel said.

Dr Theib Oweis, Director, IWLMP, in his welcome address, stressed the importance of the judicious re-use of wastewater taking into consideration public health and environmental concerns.

Dr Liqa Raschid-Sally, Head of IWMI's West Africa Office, traced the origins of the research initiative on wastewater use in agriculture. She listed the various public health and environmental risks involved, and urged that particular emphasis be placed on efforts to minimize the negative impacts.

Mr Mark Redwood from IDRC said that research on the use of wastewater for agriculture, especially in peri-urban areas, gained momentum after the ‘Hyderabad Declaration’ in India in 2002, and considerable progress has been made in recent years.
Participants of the workshop on 'Sustainable Management of Wastewater for Agricultural Production in Water-Scarce Countries', ICARDA, 11-15 November.
Dr Frans Huibers from Wageningen University presented an overview of recent research by the University's Irrigation and Water Engineering Group.

Dr Manzoor Qadir, Marginal-Quality Water Specialist (ICARDA/IWMI), spelt out the objectives of the ICARDA-IWMI joint initiative and the 'Bridging Workshop Series', and presented the various themes and the challenges of wastewater use in developing countries.

On 13 November, the workshop participants visited the Aleppo Sewage Treatment Plant and fields where wastewater is being used to grow a range of crops.

Dr Raj Paroda, ADG (International Cooperation), presided over the valedictory function of the workshop on 15 November. He highlighted ICARDA's work on the management of marginal-quality water resources in Central Asia. He was appreciative of the presence and enthusiasm of young participants from developing countries. He stressed the need for continued post-workshop collaboration among the participants.

Over 25 scientists and technologists from 13 countries – Canada, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, USA and Zimbabwe – participated in the workshop. Four participants – Mr Charbel Mahfoud of Lebanon, Mr Tichatonga Gonah of Zimbabwe, Ms Olfa Mahjoub of Tunisia, and Ms Maha Halalsheh of Jordan – won awards for the best papers presented at the workshop.
 

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15 international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.
Back