This document summarizes lessons learned from 20 years of research on agricultural water productivity. It discusses how definitions and concepts around water efficiency have evolved over time to recognize the importance of scale and context. Early research focused on reducing water applications at the field scale, but studies in Pakistan found that while applications decreased, total water consumption increased at the system scale due to expansion of irrigated area. This highlights the need to clearly define objectives and terms like water consumed versus applied. Overall, the research emphasizes considering multiple scales and factors, and recognizing that improved productivity, not just efficiency, should be the goal.

1. Evolving thinking on
Agricultural Water
Productivity: Lessons learned
from 20 years of research
Meredith A. Giordano
International Water Management
Institute (IWMI)
Peter G. McCornick
Robert B. Daugherty Water
for Food Global Institute
World Bank Water Week
March 15, 2017

2. 1996
Agricultural Water Productivity:
Origins of water productivity research at IWMI
• Efficiency is a “tricky” concept in the
field of water (does not account for
capture and reuse of water)
• Scope for real water savings is often
less than imagined
• New concepts are needed to address
the “increasingly difficult problems
facing water management”
• Water Productivity: Output (kg/$) in
relation to water use (in terms of water
withdrawn, applied or consumed)

3. > 300 journal articles, reports and other
documents on water productivity:
methods, tools and applied research in diverse
settings

4. Case Study: Water savings myths and realities
Background
• Objective: Assess the impact of “resource conservation” practices on
water application, water productivity and real water savings
• Location: Rechna Doab, semi-arid Punjab Province, Pakistan
Rice–wheat cropping zones in the Indus Basin of Pakistan and location of sample farms surveyed in and near Rechna Doab,
the Punjab, Pakistan. Source: Ahmad et al. 2007, 2014

5. At field scale: Water application reduced
Field-scale impacts of laser leveling and zero tillage technologies
(Ahmad et al. 2014)
At field scale adoption of
resource conservation
technologies led to
• 24-32% reduction in water
application at the field scale
• Increased farm level incomes

6. At system scale: Water consumption increased
Ahmad et al. 2007
Overall water consumption at the system scale increased by 59 million cubic
meters/year following the adoption of “resource conservation” technologies.

7. Belief Reality
Transpiration Evaporation
Flood irrigation
Zero till
Transpiration Evaporation
Transpiration Evaporation
Flood irrigation
Transpiration Evaporation
Zero till
Some of the “wasted” water had actually been reused
Flood irrigation
Zero till

8. • Reductions on water
applications at the field
scale translate into reduced
water consumption in the
system (i.e., farmers won’t
use the “saved” water).
• Net farm incomes
increased.
• Increased profitability
incentivized farmers to
expand cultivated area
and/or increase cropping
intensity.
Belief Reality

9. Impact depends on physical setting
Groundwater quality in the Indus Basin, Ahmad et al. 2014

10. 2017
• Define terms carefully (e.g., water
applied versus consumed)
• Scale and context matter
• Know your objective (i.e., improving
water productivity is not the end
goal)
• Be clear on the use and limits of
single factor measures
Agricultural Water Productivity
Lessons learned from 20 years of applied research

11. Thank You

12. Ahmad, M.D.; Masih, I.; Turral, H.; Giordano, M.; Masood, Z. 2006. Opportunities and challenges in saving
water and improving productivity through resource conservation technologies: Examples from
Pakistan. In: International Workshop on Water Saving Technologies, Amritsar, Punjab, India, February
22-24, 2006. New Delhi, India: United States Educational Foundation in India. Pp. 120-139.
Ahmad, M.D.; Giordano, M.; Turral, H.; Masih, I.; Masood, Z. 2007. At what scale does water saving really
save water? Lessons from the use of resource conservation technologies in Pakistan. Soil and Water
Conservation 62(2): 29A-35A.
Ahmad, M.D.; Turral, H.; Masih, I.; Giordano, M.; Masood, Z. 2007. Water saving technologies: Myths and
realities revealed in Pakistan’s rice-wheat systems. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water
Management Institute (IWMI). 38p. (IWMI Research Report 108).
Ahmad, M.D.; Masih, I.; Giordano, M. 2014. Constraints and opportunities for water savings and increasing
productivity through Resource Conservation Technologies in Pakistan. Agriculture, Ecosystems and
Environment 187: 106-115.
Giordano, M.; Turral, H.; Scheierling, S. M.; Tréguer, D. O.; McCornick, P. G. 2017. Beyond “More Crop per
Drop”: evolving thinking on agricultural water productivity. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water
Management Institute (IWMI); Washington, DC, USA: The World Bank. 53p. (IWMI Research Report
169).
Seckler, D. 1999. Revisiting the" IWMI paradigm:" Increasing the efficiency and productivity of water use.
International Water Management Institute (IWMI): Colombo, Sri Lanka
References