Approach and Policies against Drought: the Experience of the IAMB in Syria Damascus, 1- 2 July 2008

Reducing of the water Resources Gbara Spring

Cooperation Project: “Rationalization of Ras El Ain irrigation systems” Others IAMB activities:

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: Food and income security SPECIFIC PURPOSE: Reduce the use of groundwater resources in the project area.

Water saved: Wheat 42% - 55% Water saved: Cotton 42% Save water resources: Project’s results

IMPROVED SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Weather Station Weekly Meteorological Data Tools for Irrigation

Tensiometer Field capacity (full) Field capacity (low) Tools for Irrigation

Field monitoring Tools for Irrigation

Increase Yields and Saving of water resources 5-Agricultural techniques 3 -Training 2-New machinery 4 -New crops 1-New Irrigation system

Mechanical seeding machine It used for seeding wheat wheat Brassica Brassica Soybean Soybean Sorghum Sorghum Chickpea Chickpea 15 Cm Seeding by furrows for winter crops

Pneumatic seeding machine 140 Cm 50 Cm70 Cm 15 Cm Seeding by furrows for summer crops It used for seeding Cotton Cotton Sunflower Sunflower Maize Maize Soybean Soybean

Improving the Ministry of Irrigation and Ministry of Agriculture performances Trainings for farmers and technicians; Trainings for farmers and technicians; Data base Data base GIS/TIS Unit GIS/TIS Unit Equipments; Equipments; Laboratories; Laboratories; Guidelines; Guidelines; Crop Manuals Crop Manuals

Sustainability of the project = Implementation together with Irrigation and Agriculture Ministry's Technicians HYDRALIC AND WELLS 3 engineers AGRONOMY 6 Agronomists AUXILIARIES AND WORKERS 5 persons 3 external ADMINISTRATIVE 4 technicians 3 Temporary Junior Experts 12 International Experts ECONOMY 3 economists DIGITAL MAPS AND GIS 3 technicians EXPATRIATE 1 Project Manager 1 Senior Expert 1 Junior Expert

The actual situation and future prospective

Problems Excessive and irrational use of natural resources Poor agriculture and high-cost production Low-efficient (water) agriculture production Water Soil Bio diversity Old and poor mechanization Inadequate irrigation and agronomical practices High costs of production Agriculture production = Water

Water Consumption for 1 KG of agriculture production Cotton: from 1,700 to 3,300 Liters of Water for 1 Kg Wheat: from 600 to 1,600 Liters of Water for 1 Kg Losing of production (all steeps) = loosing of water

New way for future Not only Irrigation but integrated process ! WATER: More Efficient Exploitation with rationale Technologies and Methodologies More Efficient use of Rain Fed cultivation (Water Harvesting) Genetic resources and crops more draught resistant Integration of Agronomical practices and Irrigation

New way for future New concept: inside of any product (from agriculture or from industry) there is water ! WATER: More Efficient Use of Inputs (less inputs less water) Decreasing of losing (production, transportation, storage, food processing) Correct evaluation of availability of resources and water demand

New way for future Consideration: Not only agriculture is using Water ! WATER: More Efficient System of water distribution (decreasing of loses) Decreasing of losing and consumption from all, civil and productive sectors New policy and management for water

New way for future Starting point: Knowledge of the available Resources and the Crops and People’s necessities! Studies and analysis of the available resources Evaluation of the demand and necessities New Plans for sustainable exploitation and use of water Water, Soil and their use

Thank you for attention CIHEAM - IAMB Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari - Italy Via Ceglie, Valenzano (Bari) Italy, Phone Fax: