EIGHT countries signed a ministerial declaration in Chiang Mai on Sunday to cooperate on improving irrigation systems among member countries to ensure food and water security.
A high-level advisory group on “Partnerships for Agriculture Water Management” was established by the Chiang Mai Declaration to facilitate improved agricultural water productivity and management. It aims to ensure food security according to sustainable development goals, amid fears of water scarcity caused by climate change.
Meanwhile, ministers from four countries visited the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district yesterday to learn about a sustainable water and agriculture project initiated by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Ministers from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan and Sudan visited the centre.
After the declaration was signed, Saeed Nairizi, president of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), said the new advisory group would primarily support member countries to achieve sustainable development of agricultural water as threats of climate change loomed.
“Irrigation and drainage are keys to enhancing water security and achieving food security in a world confronted by limited natural resources,” Nairizi said.
“It is clear that there is need for enhanced investment, means of sharing experiences, exchange of best practices and transfer of technologies with focussed attention on more effective and sustainable management of agricultural water.
“The new advisory group will be an action-oriented, multi-stakeholder partnership, which has a goal to support member countries in achieving the sustainable development goal and share experiences in implementation of targets related to agricultural water management, which is key to both water and food security.”

Interest in Royal Projects
The Chiang Mai Declaration was signed by eight ministers from the eight countries of Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal and Thailand during the second World Irrigation Forum (WIF2), which was hosted by Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department (RID) last week.
RID deputy director-general Thongplew Khongjun said Thailand was nominated as the leader on irrigation development in Asean, and that ministers from ICID member states that attended WIF2 were interested in learning from Thailand’s irrigation projects and royal projects.
“Thailand has a long history of irrigation works since the Sukhothai era and right now our country has implemented the new royal agricultural theories, which suit the sustainable development goal,” Thongplew said.
“Moreover, Laos has proposed that Thailand be the leader on irrigation development for other Asean member countries, according to our great performance on irrigation work.”
During the visit to Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre, Hassabelnabi Musa Mohamed, Sudan’s Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity, said he was delighted to have a chance to learn from the King’s projects.
He said he intended to send engineers from his country to study Thai irrigation works to improve projects in Sudan.
Deputy head of Nepal’s Irrigation Department Bashu Dev Lohanee said Thailand provided very good examples of irrigation development, which could help to deal with problems in Nepal, such as land degradation and the lack of irrigation infrastructure.

Objectives of the ICID

– Establish a high-level advisory group on partnerships for agricultural water management
– lUse the partnership to share experiences on sustainable development goal implementation
– Encourage the United Nations system to contribute to the efforts
– Encourage member countries to organise national multi-stakeholder partnership platforms in agricultural water management
– Direct the ICID to establish a task force to provide support to the advisory group.

Source: ICID

The number of people was higher than during last week.
Officials had to open the entrance for mourners to go inside the Palace before the usual opening at 5am. And it closed at 9pm.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Amnuay Nimmano said in a press briefing that activities that were not linked to facilitating mourners were no longer allowed on Sanam Luang.
The order – banning hair cutting, massage, painting and handmade printing services – came from the national command centre, Amnuay said.
The First Army Region will establish subcommittees to maintain order on the site as more people are expected to come for the graduation commencement ceremony at Thammasat University, which is close to Sanam Luang, next weekend, plus the Loy Kratong festival on November 14.
Amnuay said the new panels would take care of safety and traffic during those periods. He asked people to come to pay respects to the King on weekdays to avoid overly long queues.
People from other provinces should come in groups, as Interior Ministry agencies were able to organise their travel.
Yesterday Nonthaburi Governor Nisit Chantasomwong led 750 mourners from the province to pay their respects to HM the King. And because Nonthaburi is close to the Chao Phaya, they travelled to the Palace by river to avoid road traffic.
More people from Nonthaburi will be able to pay their respects, in trips set up by the Interior Ministry, on November 25, December 14 and January 2.
It was estimated that about 150,000 people came to Sanam Luang yesterday and 30,998 of them paid tribute to HM the King inside the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
The second rehearsal for Thammasat graduates was held yesterday – and went well. But the university told graduates and their families to remember that the event is being held during the mourning period for the King.
Foreign tourists who visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha also behaved properly.