Investigating the public water strategies of India, Ireland, California, and Argentina

Water is an essential resource for agriculture and food production worldwide, and countries or regions with large populations and agricultural economies face immediate challenges in managing their water resources effectively. I have been examining the public water strategies in place over the last decades in India, Ireland, California, and Argentina, with a focus on their approaches to supporting food production. These countries have similarities and differences when compared to New Zealand farming systems and water resources availability. Examining their strategies can suggest implications of these strategies for New Zealand farmers and policymakers.

India just tipped over the mark in April 2023 to become the world’s most populous country1 ahead of China. It has a large agricultural sector that employs around half of the population. The country faces significant challenges in managing its water resources due to its rapidly growing population and uneven distribution of rainfall. The government of India has implemented a range of policies and programmes to address these challenges, which aim to promote integrated water resources management, increase irrigation efficiency, and improve water quality. The government also encourages the adoption of modern irrigation technologies and provides subsidies for the construction of water harvesting structures. The Indian government has made substantial investments in water infrastructure and management, including investing in research institutions that conduct research on water management practices for agriculture.

India has a long history of water storage infrastructure, with ancient irrigation systems still in use today. However, despite these efforts, water scarcity remains a major issue for farmers in many parts of the country and the country faces ongoing challenges in managing its water resources due to population growth and climate change. The government of India has implemented a range of policies and programmes to address these challenges, including the construction of large-scale dams and canals to store and distribute water. The government also encourages the use of groundwater recharge structures and the adoption of modern irrigation technologies to improve water use efficiency. However, the construction of large dams has been controversial, with concerns about the displacement of local communities and the environmental impacts of dam construction.

Ireland is a small island nation with a strong agricultural economy. The country has abundant rainfall, but its high-intensity rainfall patterns can lead to soil erosion and waterlogging. The government of Ireland has implemented a range of policies and programmes to support sustainable water management in agriculture. These programmes have provided funding and technical support to farmers who adopt sustainable agricultural practices, such as reducing fertiliser use and improving soil quality. The government has also introduced a range of regulations to protect water quality, in particular, regulating the use of nitrogen fertilisers.

Ireland has a relatively small population and abundant rainfall, which means that the country has traditionally relied on natural water storage systems such as rivers and lakes. However, in recent years the government has invested in the construction of small-scale water storage infrastructure, such as farm dams and reservoirs, to support sustainable agriculture.

The Irish government has historically provided considerable funding for agriculture research and development, including research on water management. For example, the Irish run a research programme on sustainable agriculture and natural resources, which includes research on water use efficiency in agriculture.

California is a wealthy state in the United States with a large agricultural sector that is a major contributor to the state’s economy. The state is in a semi-arid region and faces broad challenges in managing its water resources due to drought and increasing demand for water from urban areas. The government of California has implemented a range of policies and programmes to support sustainable water management in agriculture, including the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

An active California Water Plan is in place, with a 2023 update set to advance a state-wide vision, including a watershed resilience planning framework with strategies and toolkits, and indicators and metrics to track progress, sustainability, and resilience. These programmes aim to reduce water use in agriculture, increase water use efficiency, and promote the use of recycled water for irrigation.

California has a long history of water storage infrastructure, with large-scale dams and canals built in the early 20th century to support agricultural development. However, the state faces significant challenges in managing its water resources due to climate change and increasing demand from urban areas. The government of California has implemented a range of construction programmes for new water storage infrastructure. The state government also encourages the use of water-efficient irrigation technologies and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices to reduce water demand.

The state of California has invested sizable resources in water management and infrastructure, and the California Department of Water Resources conducts research on water management practices and technologies for agriculture.

Argentina is a large country in the southern hemisphere with a diverse agricultural sector that is a major contributor to the country’s economy. Argentina has a diverse range of natural water storage systems, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

The country faces large challenges in managing its water resources due to the uneven distribution of rainfall and the overexploitation of groundwater resources. The government of Argentina has implemented a range of policies and programmes to support sustainable water management in agriculture, including the National Water Plan and the National Agroecology Plan which encourage a new relationship between farming, food, and nature. These programmes aim to reduce water use in agriculture, promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and protect water resources from pollution by placing water at the core of economic and social development.

The Argentine government has made important investments in water infrastructure and management, including the construction of large-scale irrigation systems including storage components, and the development of water management plans for different regions of the country. The government also invested in research institutions that conduct research on water management practices for agriculture.

Overall, the level of government spending on water strategy and research for agriculture varies across the above-mentioned countries and New Zealand. However, in all these countries water management and agriculture are recognised as important priorities and receive extensive government support.

The World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) play an important role in influencing policy approaches to water management in many regions of the world. Both organisations provide technical and financial assistance to governments and other stakeholders to support the development of sustainable water management strategies.

Foreword by Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Director, Water Global Practice, World Bank Group, World Bank, in “What the Future Has in Store: A New Paradigm for Water Storage.” World Bank, Washington, DC. 2023:

“It is often said that climate change expresses itself through water. The inevitability of hydrological climate extremes is placing increasing pressure on all water practitioners to manage differently, and nowhere is that more necessary than in storage. Freshwater storage is at the heart of adapting to climate change, most obviously by saving water for drier times and reducing the impact of floods. Many populations are experiencing increasing levels of climate-based turmoil, and for them, any relief that comes with recovery is tempered by anxiety about the future. It is safe to say that going forward, the most stable, durable societies will, in many cases, be anchored in more resilient approaches to water storage.”

In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the importance of freshwater management in New Zealand, particularly in relation to water quality. The Government has launched several initiatives to improve freshwater management, including the establishment of a new freshwater regulatory system and the development of a National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. These initiatives are designed to improve the management of freshwater resources and protect water quality for future generations.

However, while water policies in New Zealand are primarily driven by a mix of environmental protections, there is less recognition of the role of water in the productive economy. The Government of New Zealand is recognising that even with a perception of abundant rainfall, water is a finite resource and its management is crucial to the environment. It also recognises the importance of water to the productive economy, including agriculture, hydroelectricity, and tourism.

There have been policy examples in New Zealand that supported the development of water storage infrastructure for agriculture. One example was the Government’s Irrigation Acceleration Fund, which provided funding to support the development of irrigation schemes, including water storage infrastructure, to increase the productivity and sustainability of agricultural production.

In addition, the previous Government operated the Provincial Growth Fund, which included funding for water storage infrastructure projects that were proposed to support regional economic growth. For example, the fund supported investigations of the development of a multi-use water storage facility in several regions, which could have provided water for irrigation and reduced the risk of drought for farmers.

The process of investigating water storage infrastructure in Wairarapa, Northland, and Hawke’s Bay had been driven by private sector stakeholders along with local government and other community and iwi groups. These regions have identified the need for water storage infrastructure to support agricultural production and have worked to develop projects that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and meet a range of community needs for reliable water. The scheme proposals, while primarily to provide water for irrigation, could also help to reduce flood risk and improve water quality. Only the Northland project has proceeded to construction at this point. With the lack of clear central policies, local regulatory barriers have impeded the outcomes in other regions.

By working collaboratively with stakeholders and investing in key areas, the Government can help to ensure that water remains a valuable and productive resource for generations to come. There are some improvements that could be adopted by the New Zealand Government to fill in gaps and strengthen its national water strategy, ensuring that water is managed sustainably for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

The Government could work to develop a more coordinated approach to water management across all levels of government. This could involve the development of a national water strategy that outlines clear goals and objectives for water management, and the development of more consistent policies and regulations across all regions of the country about water storage.

The New Zealand Government provides funding for water strategy and research for agriculture through a range of programmes and initiatives, such as the older Sustainable Farming Fund, the new Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF), and to research institutions such as AgResearch and Landcare Research to conduct research on water management practices for agriculture. The Government could increase its investment in water storage infrastructure to support sustainable agricultural production and reduce the impact of droughts in regions that are experiencing water shortages.

Sustainable water management in agriculture requires a multifaceted approach that involves a range of policies and programmes, including regulations, subsidies, technical support, and education. The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices can significantly reduce water use and improve water quality, and there is a need to incentivise farmers to adopt these practices.

The water strategies of India, Ireland, California, and Argentina provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of sustainable water management in agriculture. While the strategies adopted by these places differ in their approaches, they have the common goal of promoting the sustainable use of water resources to support food production. New Zealand farmers and policymakers can learn from these strategies to develop their own approaches to sustainable water management in agriculture, considering their unique characteristics.

Stephen McNally Principal Technical Advisor IrrigationNZ