Considering that agricultural irrigation is the largest consumer of freshwater resources in the Middle East, accounting for more than 80% of all water withdrawals, one of the thematic areas chosen under the WEFE umbrella by the Blue Peace Middle East (BPME) regional mechanism has been water use efficiency in agriculture. As a result of the study, “Disseminating Knowledge to Improve Agricultural Water Use Efficiency”, completed by SUEN in 2022, reports were published in which good governance in irrigation was highlighted as one of the proposed action areas for further attention.

In this regard, a workshop and observational study tour was held to explore current thinking on the governance of irrigation schemes in which participants were able to observe and discuss the challenges as well as good practices in their countries to improve good irrigation management in the region. 

As part of the event held in Adana, Türkiye on 3-6 June 2024 with the participation of irrigation experts from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Türkiye, experts gave detailed information on various irrigation management practices in Türkiye.

Field visits were also organized to the İmamoğlu project (a fully closed, automated irrigation system), Seyhan Dam automation systems, Seyhan Irrigation Union as well as the Zerdali Dam where volumetric pricing is applied through pre-paid meters.

On the last day of the program, experts from the member countries of BPME shared practices and experiences on irrigation governance in their countries in which areas of cooperation to improve agricultural irrigation efficiency in the region were discussed.