The key to improving work on irrigation problems 

 appears to be improving the network for communication 

 and training. This might best be done regionally and 

 FAO could provide substantial global backup. The 

 international agricultural research centers would 

 probably not lead in this effort because their 

 predominant focus is on specific crops and production 

 systems. They can, however, gain as well as contribute 

 by participating in any network relating to irrigation 

 and water management. 



Some rudimentary models for transferring farm 

 management technology have been developed in Southeast 

 Asia by the ADC and IRRI. FAO and the Asian 

 Development Bank have held regional workshops and FAO 

 has developed a substantial information-sharing effort. 



One possible model for an international network on 

 farm water management is the International Council for 

 Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF) , developed as a result 

 of a study sponsored by Canada's International 

 Development Research Centre (Bene et al. 1977) . A 

 small central ICRAF-like staff would be responsible for 

 stimulating research and technology transfer efforts 

 but would not engage in them directly. It would also 

 synthesize, collect, and disseminate information, and 

 provide opportunities for interested parties to assess 

 the need for and to plan coordination of research and 

 development. CGIAR is supportive of ICRAF, although it 

 is not officially within the scope of CGIAR* s 

 activities. 



Whatever networks may be developed, the concerned 

 countries should have the major conceptual and 

 administrative responsibility for national solutions. 



Proposed Initiatives 



We suggest that the United States announce its 

 interest in helping solve water management problems by: 



1. Strengthening bilateral financial and technical 

 assistance for such activities as (1) helping 

 developing countries establish regional or national 

 farm irrigation institutions for diagnostic 

 analysis and the exchange of information (in most 

 situations, on-farm facilities and schedules are 

 left up to the farmers, so that there are 

 invariably organizational problems with fairly 

 complex human and social ramifications: in-country 

 requirements include strong government program 

 support and training of technical and extension- 

 type personnel and water system managers) ; (2) 

 regional or in-country farm water management 

 workshops for technicians and administrators; (3) 



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