The added value of research on drainage in irrigated agriculture

To feed the growing world population, food production will have to double in the next 25 years. The majority of this increase will have to come from investments in improved irrigation and drainage practices in existing agricultural lands. Research plays an essential role in achieving these ambitious goals. This paper shows that applied research on drainage gives "value for money". The paper is based on applied research programmes conducted in Egypt, India and Pakistan. Research findings have helped to modernize subsurface drainage practices and considerable savings have been achieved by introducing new methods of investigation, design, planning, installation (including new materials and equipment) and operation and maintenance. Research has also helped to improve subsurface drainage operations and institutions. All these improvements could only be achieved because these countries invested in drainage research and in training all personnel involved in applying the new and innovative practices. The results show that the benefits of applied research easily outweigh the costs. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.