National Irrigation Policy, 2024.

The 2024 Irrigation Policy is a national sectoral framework updating the 2016 Policy to address emerging priorities. Key developments include strengthening farmer organizations, promoting Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), improving land and water resource management, and expanding beyond food security to drive industrialization and exports. The Policy aims to enhance agricultural productivity and commercialization for an inclusive, self-reliant, and prosperous nation, emphasizing the role of irrigation in food security and commercial agriculture. It prioritizes (1) sustainable irrigation development, integrating environmental, health, and social considerations to expand irrigation while ensuring economic viability, environmental protection, and social equity; (2) sustainable irrigation management to ensure efficient use of land, water, and infrastructure for profitability. However, challenges like water scarcity, poor maintenance, lack of transparency, marketing issues, and land tenure disputes hinder effective project management; (3) capacity building across sectors. Key challenges include limited training, low literacy, lack of adherence to standards, weak research-extension linkages, and shortages of expertise and equipment. Additionally, the document supports the transformation of farmer organizations into commercial enterprises and promotes transparency and accountability in irrigation management.
The Policy (i) suggests climate-resilient irrigation technologies, environmental and social safeguards, and funding mobilization through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs); (ii) promotes profitable irrigation enterprises, sustainable land tenure, and inclusive participation of youth, women, and vulnerable groups; (iii) guides stakeholders in irrigation development to enhance income, food security, and national economic growth. The objectives of the Policy are to (i) expand sustainable irrigation farming by at least 6,000 hectares per year; (ii) boost the volume of high-value irrigated export crops by 20% annually; (iii) enhance the technical capacity of irrigation practitioners by 10% each year; (iv) increase investment in sustainable irrigation by 20% annually; (v) grow the number of commercially oriented irrigation groups by 10% per year; (vi) accelerate the adoption of standards, practices, and technologies by 20% annually; and (vii) ensure at least 80% sustainable utilization of irrigated land each year. The expected outcomes are (i) increased irrigated agriculture production and productivity for local and export use; (ii) increased production of high-value irrigated crops to support the national industrialization drive; (iii) mitigated climate change effects through the use of appropriate environmental management practices; (iv) increased employment opportunities for the youth, women, and people of all gender categories; (v) enhanced technical and administrative capacity within the public and private sectors and farmer organizations.