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Sikke Meerman SAI Platform WG Water&Agriculture Art of Farming Conference May 2010, Brussels

Water Management at Farm level and the Food Industry The NW Indian case. Sikke Meerman SAI Platform WG Water&Agriculture Art of Farming Conference May 2010, Brussels. The Working Group on Water & Agriculture. Started October 2007: 7 members Our Work Programme outline

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Sikke Meerman SAI Platform WG Water&Agriculture Art of Farming Conference May 2010, Brussels

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  1. Water Management at Farm level and the Food Industry The NW Indian case Sikke Meerman SAI Platform WG Water&Agriculture Art of Farming Conference May 2010, Brussels

  2. The Working Group on Water & Agriculture • Started October 2007: 7 members • Our Work Programme outline • Repository and Best Practices on line • Pilot projects: member own activity reports • VWC & WF studies: position paper • Seminars (most recently in November 2009) • External liaison • More robust involvement ambition 2

  3. The repository boxes Water Productivity (WP) Water Quality (WQ) Water Harvesting (WH) Water Social pillar (WS) 3

  4. A few ambitions… • SAI Platform wants to play its role in the global water debate … although we have our limitations and boundaries, like food industry focus, time and funds • We want to be active in parts of the world where it is all happening • Strive for more alignment with the global direction • Play a catalyst role through a joint effort • We would like to make our PP’s more robust • Seeking for partnerships 4

  5. A number of relevant questions from the November seminar….. 1- Why are we still conducting those water management best practices projects when we already know that they work? 2- Why do the impressive successes not automatically trickle down to other farms? Lack of knowledge transfer, investment, risks? 3- Why don’t we focus on the watershed level where the overall results still are dramatic? 4- Which key entities could help address this wider level, and how? 5- And finally: What should be the role of our food industry here? 5

  6. Scope of a joint effort project • The overall aim of the proposed project is to: • roll-out water management best practices at farm level, • in a specific region • (possibly, not necessarily) focusing on the production of a few key commodities or products. 6

  7. Why NW India? • Population growth • Food business growth • Increasing food supply challenges • Low agricultural management level • Water scarcity problems • Water quality deficiencies • Biodiversity at risk • Rural communities need clear water 7

  8. The trigger…. 8

  9. Water is one indicator… • Water is a crucial sustainability indicator in this part of the world • The cross-links with other indicators like soil, nutrient and pest management, product value, energy, biodiversity and social&human capital are evident • Proper institutional preconditions are a key factor 9

  10. Our individual pilot projects … • Nestlé : dairy Punjab • McCain: potato Gujarat • Pepsico: potato NW India • Unilever: tomato, vegetables Punjab • Other members intend to set up similar PP’s in India • The WG would like to see fruit produce included as well 10

  11. A food processor’s experience… • Local farmers are receptive to new technologies • Need to start small and gain credibility through field demonstrations • Bigger success when positive benefits for various stakeholders: • Growers: improved yield & reduced costs • Government: reduced electricity subsidy costs, improve sustainability of ag sector • Food processor: a more sustainable raw material supply for the years to come • (Source: McCain) 11

  12. 12

  13. McCain Sponsored Irrigation Meetings 13

  14. Timeline • Step 1: Defining the project aim, scope, boundaries (and budget) – March 2010 onwards • Drafting the proposal • External inputs – Conference May 2010 (!) • Identifying partner(s) and funding sources • Revising proposal based on partners’ input • Step 2: Undertaking the work – 2010/2011 onwards • Step 3: Making the project findings available and usable to key groups globally – after 2011 14

  15. Initial ideas and proposed steps…. • 1.Liaise with potential partners • Farm Extension and R&D teams: • IWMI (existing and new contacts) • FAO • ICRISAT (existing local contact) • Local government and their institutions • Funding institutions • IFC – WB • RABO • Other ? ….NGO’s • WWF • OXFAM 15

  16. Initial ideas (ctd.)…. • 2. WIC • Development of a user-friendly • “Water impact calculator” (WIC) • Data entering • Understand irrigation impact • Impact mitigation and best practice indication • b. WIC test phase • c. Field exploration of best way of rolling out 16

  17. More? …. • 3.  Your ideas and suggestions please…. 17

  18. Conclusions of this break out session • …………. 18

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