IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE AS A TOOL FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: OUTCOMES OF 22ND ICID CONGRESS

Abstract

The agricultural sector is most vulnerable to climate change due to its high dependence on climate and weather elements. According to the IPCC’s latest assessment, the impact of observed changes in climate trends, variability and extreme events shows that crop yields in many countries have declined, partly due to rising temperatures and extreme weather events. According to IPCC AR5, the major impacts of climate change in rural areas will be felt through impacts on water supply, food security and agricultural incomes. Most studies conclude that climate change impacts will be substantial, especially for developing countries, because of their geographical location and because rural populations suffer from low adaptive capacities. The 22nd ICID Congress, under the theme ‘Securing Water for Food and Rural Communities under Climate Change’, in its true tradition of addressing issues of emerging global interest, and as brought out in pages 139 and 140 of the 63.1 issue, focused its deliberation on two Questions framed as: