Rethinking irrigation modernisation: realising multiple objectives through the integration of fisheries

Abstract

Irrigation has been, and will remain, instrumental in addressing water security (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6), food insecurity (SDG 2) and poverty (SDG 1) goals. However, the global context in which irrigation takes place is changing rapidly. A call for healthier and more sustainable food systems is placing new demands on how irrigation is developed and managed. Growing pressures from competing water uses in the domestic and industrial sectors, as well increasing environmental awareness, mean irrigation is increasingly called on to perform better, delivering acceptable returns on investment and simultaneously improving food security, rural livelihoods and nutrition, as well as supporting environmental conservation. Better integration of fisheries (including aquaculture) in irrigation planning, investment and management can contribute to the modernisation of irrigation and the achievement of the multiple objectives that it is called on to deliver. A framework illustrating how fisheries can be better integrated with irrigation, and how the two can complement each other across a range of scales, from scheme to catchment and, ultimately, national level, is presented.

Speaking the same language: can the sustainable development goals translate the needs of inland fisheries into irrigation decisions?

“…In addition, changes in river flow regimes and the widespread use of agricultural chemicals, typically associated with irrigation and high-yielding crop varieties, have led to environmental degradation and increases in pollution with, among other things, negative effects on fisheries (Falkenmark et al 2007). Increasingly, future irrigation must contribute not only to productive agriculture, but also to increased returns on investment, improved livelihoods and environmental conservation for sustainable development (McCartney et al 2019).…”

“…There is a significant opportunity to ensure that fisheries and OAAs are acknowledged and addressed in development agendas by integrating them through modernisation programs (Baumgartner et al 2019a;McCartney et al 2019). For example, approximately US$3 billion is being invested in Indonesia alone over the next 3 years to update and modernise failing irrigation infrastructure (World Bank 2018).…”

Maintaining Diversity of Integrated Rice and Fish Production Confers Adaptability of Food Systems to Global Change

“…This is at least in part due to the disciplinary approaches to agricultural and aquatic systems research and development that impedes integration among crops and wild and cultured aquatic resources (Amilhat et al, 2009;Tezzo et al, 2020). Currently, agricultural investments increasingly seek to achieve food and nutrition security as well as environmental sustainability objectives (Asian Development Bank, 2015;McCartney et al, 2019), leading to increased interest in agroecological approaches (e.g., FAO, 2019;HLPE, 2019). To assist in these efforts, we describe the range of RFPPs and evidence of their respective advantages, constraints, and contributions toward sustainable food systems outcomes.…”

Irrigation, fisheries and Sustainable Development Goals: the importance of working collaboratively to end world hunger and malnutrition

“…Many governments continue to view irrigation as critical to meeting the demands of growing populations and a key contributor to achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and other development goals related to hunger and malnutrition (Nilsson et al 2016). However, to truly achieve these goals, future water development activities, such as irrigation expansion, must contribute to both productive agriculture systems and maintaining livelihoods by providing environmental outcomes through improved design and implementation (McCartney et al 2019). Fisheries need to be considered as part of these design activities.…”

“…The research front includes a selection of articles that will advance knowledge on various aspects of fish and irrigation interactions, and the benefits that addressing these two issues will have in helping achieve the SDGs. Key topics include: a global update on the state of irrigation development (McCartney et al 2019) the importance of inland fisheries and relevance to the SDGs (Lynch et al 2019) the benefits of fisheries in irrigation systems (Dubois et al 2019) techniques to mitigate the effects of irrigation development, such as fishways, environmental flows, sustainably managed reservoirs and irrigation screens (Cooper et al 2019;Salalila et al 2019;Stuart et al 2019;Utomo et al 2019) irrigation and fisheries development issues in South-East Asia and Africa (Conallin et al 2019;O'Brien et al 2019;Utomo et al 2019).…”