Scaling irrigation gains from farm to basin and planning needs under climate change

Climate change is intensifying water stress through shifting rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and increased demand variability. To adapt, water conservation technologies (WCTs) and irrigation efficiency measures must be planned with climate-resilience and scale in mind. This involves both field knowledge and the integration of climate change data, combined hydrology/water systems modelling and scenario analysis to understand the potential gains from irrigation interventions on future water resources and their equitable availability for various users. The session will demonstrate how such tools can help decision makers plan and mobilize resources to ensure efficiency gains scale from farm to aquifer/basin, and understand their impact on water availabilty for other users hence inform supply demand interventions (e.g., desalination, TWW)