Public Private Partnerships in Irrigation Development and Management

Irrigation has been vital to agricultural gains in the last half century. But demand for food continues to rise as the world's population increases and economic progress allows more people to eat better. Demand for irrigation grows apace with the demand for food. But in recent years the pace of irrigation development has slowed: expansion of irrigated fields has not kept up with population growth. Governments have been investing less in irrigation infrastructure, and less water is available, as competing demands from cities and industry reduce the water supply. To avoid a severe gap between supply and demand, advanced irrigation techniques and technology must replace inefficient water management practices. With guidance and support from the World Bank, public-private partnerships (PPPs) could improve the way water is used.