Flood-prone ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia are traditionally farmed with deepwater rice followed by post-flood rice culture during the dry season. During the

flood season, the same land is inundated, creating an open-access water body subject to multiple uses by multiple users. Fish production in these areas is based on

In the northern highlands of Ethiopia, establishment of exclosures to restore degraded communal grazing lands has been practiced for the past three decades. However, empirical data on the effectiveness of exclosures in restoring degraded soils are lacking. We investigated the influence of exclosure age on degree of restoration of degraded soil and identified easily measurable biophysical and management-related factors that can be used to predict soil nutrient restoration.

This paper explores the potential benefits of working to improve the resilience of complex adaptive systems in agriculture and aquaculture through engaging in diverse partnerships among different types of research and development institutions, and the people in those institutions. We use five case studies of CPWF research-for- development efforts to draw lessons about achieving effective results in system resilience. The paper gives concrete examples of effective partnerships and the positive changes that resulted for farmer and fisher communities.

This working paper reviews the experiences of the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) with 14 “small

grants for impact” that were contracted in early 2006 and operated for periods of 12 to 18 months. For a total

investment of under US$1 million – less than the equivalent of a typical 3-5 year CPWF research for development

project in Phase 1, the small grant projects made significant contributions to identifying water and food technology

for specific end users (thus showing the potential of CPWF research in general); to better understanding of

In this study, an economic evaluation of water-use efficiency technologies proposed and tested by the agronomic team in the Tadla Irrigated Perimeter was carried out. To capture climatic variability, the analysis was conducted during two contrasting years (dry and wet). Total annual rainfall was 357 mm in 2005/06 (wet year) and 296 mm in 2006/07 (dry year). During the first year, precipitation was well distributed throughout the season. However, the second year was wet at the beginning, dry in the middle and very wet at the end of the season.

The new lands are represented by the El- Bustan area. The soils of the site are mostly sandy with low fertility and relatively low water holding capacity and crops are grown exclusively under irrigation using modern irrigation systems.

This study aimed at conducting the followings activities:
• To survey and identify the flora at the Mharib watershed (the intervention area of the Badia Benchmark Project),
• to study the effect of microcatchment WH techniques on the soil seed bank compared with the current situation,
• to evaluate the effect of microcatchment WH on the native vegetation regeneration and improvement, and
• to multiply and reintroduce the annual native plant species collected from the rangelands.
The study is presented in five main sections:

The study was conducted in El-Serw (New Alexandria) located about 32 km south of Damietta, Damietta Governorate, El-Manzala Lake is to the east, Dakahlia Governorate lies to the south, and to the west are El-Sharqawia canal and the Nile River.
The selected site has the general characteristics of marginal lands:
• Drainage system problems;
• High water table;
• Increased soil salinity;
• Seawater intrusion;
• Pollution due to extensive use of chemicals; low water quality;
• Available water increases relatively in winter;

The objective of any national water policy is, normally, to ‘Generate the maximum possible economic value for the nation’. Under water scarcity situations, water should be allocated so that users who generate a higher income per unit volume of water are given priority over those who generate less income. This applies not only to water quantity, but also to water quality. The above statements are valid when water is considered as an economic commodity.

Almakatei village, located on Alatf canal, was selected purposely to represent the community. Its agricultural land is located across three main districts in Menoufia Governorate – Al Bagour, Shebin Al Koum and Quesna. This was considered as one of the main advantages of selecting this site. El-Menira tertiary on Alatf canal was selected as the site for the study of the pipeline group. It is about 870 m long and it serves an area of about 40 ha. El-Hamra tertiary was selected for the study of the open canal group and serves an area of 30 ha.

The Badia constitutes about 90% of the total land area of Jordan, which is 89 342 km2. Its average annual rainfall is < 200 mm. The area with annual rainfall of 100–200 mm is considered the promising rangeland for rehabilitation. The Badia (part of the rangeland) supplies the livestock sector with about 20% of forage needs, while all the other sources provide the sector with only about 5% of forage.