The very first World Irrigation Forum (WIF1) was held on 29 September - 3 October 2013 in Mardin, Turkey.

The Forum focused on maintaining natural ecological processes that support food production systems and how an irrigated agriculture can meet these aspirations under the increasing food demands in the 21st Century. This requires a review of the policies, technics, implementations for a more sustainable water management under limiting natural resources - both land and water- under competing financial resources.

There has been a widespread participation at this forum, from policy makers, experts, research institutions, non-governmental organizations and private sector companies to farmers. The WIF has been organized in cooperation with the host Turkish National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (TUCID) and in partnership with FAO, IWMI, GWP, ADB, IFPRI, UNESCO-IHE, AWC, ICRISAT, ICARDA and WB.

In his welcome message Turkey’s Turkish Minister of Forestry & Water Affairs said, “Impacts of global warming and climate change have been intensified with each passing day in the world and in our region. These conditions add to the weight of water administration in the semiarid zones in which Turkey is located as well. For that reasons, the theme of the WIF-1 has been determined as ‘Irrigation and drainage in a changing world: Challenges and opportunities for global food security’.”

Why Mardin?

•           It has hosted the most ancient civilizations of world history…

•           3 Religions, 4 Languages… It is the best example of living in a multicultural society

•           It is the cradle of ancient irrigation and agriculture…

•           It attracts attention with modern irrigation and agriculture