ICID

Since 1951, ICID has been organizing its flagship triennial event – the International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage. These congresses serve as a global platform to discuss and evaluate upcoming changes and evolving challenges in the water sector. In the face of climate change, global warming, rapid population growth, rising demands, and continuous technological progress, ICID Congresses aim to develop practical and forward-looking solutions.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of these challenges, the congresses address major global concerns related to water and food security, water conservation, and equitable access to resources.

Every three years, two key thematic questions are identified in response to emerging global trends. Around these topics, papers are presented, and key events such as a Special Session, Symposium, and History Seminar are held and showcased internationally. Participation is open to national committees and their members, nationals of member countries, relevant international organizations, and invited experts from non-member countries.

The technical proceedings are compiled and published as Transactions, which are recognized worldwide as valuable references for researchers, professionals, and even grassroots practitioners such as farmers.

The 25th ICID Congress took place in Visakhapatnam, India, in November 2023, on the theme “Tackling Water Scarcity in Agriculture.”

The upcoming 26th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage will be held in Marseille, France, from 12 to 17 October 2026, under the theme:
“Water, Soil, Climate: Towards Resilient Agriculture.”
This congress will mark a key milestone in the global dialogue on the future of irrigated agriculture, providing a unique opportunity for exchange, collaboration, and innovation toward sustainable solutions.

Place and Date	Congress themes / Questions discussed
Visakhapatnam, India 01 - 08 November 2023	25th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage THEME : Tackling Water Scarcity in Agriculture Question 64: What alternative water resources could be tapped for irrigated agriculture? Question 65: Which on-farm techniques can increase water productivity? Seminar: National policies for safe re-use of wastewater in irrigation Symposium: Tackling Climate Change - Role of Storages for Irrigation
Adelaide, Australia 3-10 October 2022	24th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage THEME: Innovation and research in agriculture water management to achieve sustainable development goals Question 62: What Role Can Information And Communication Technology Play In Travelling The Last Mile? Question 63: What Role Is Played By Multi-Disciplinary Dialogue To Achieve Sustainable Development Goals? Special Session: Developing the future tools for managing uncertainty in irrigation water supply Symposium: Integrated Approaches to Irrigation Management in Future
Mexico City, Mexico 8-14 October 2017	23rd International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage THEME: Modernizing Irrigation and Drainage for a New Green Revolution Question 60: Water Productivity: Revisiting the concepts in light of water, energy and food nexus Question 61: State of knowledge of irrigation techniques and practicalities within given socio-economic settings Special Session: Irrigation techniques for reuse of wastewater in agriculture and its impact on health and environment Symposium: Global Review of institutional reforms in irrigation sector for sustainable agriculture water management Seminar: Water Use in food value chains: a Challenge for a New Green Revolution?
Gwangju, Republic of Korea 14-20 September 2014	22nd International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage THEME: Securing Water for Food and Rural Community under Climate Change Question 58: How Irrigation and Drainage Play an Important Role in Climate Change Adaptation? Question 59: How Do Irrigation and Drainage Interventions Secure Food Production and Livelihood for Rural Community? Special Session: New Partnership for Rural Development Symposium: Non-point Sources Pollution (NPS) and Best Management Practices (BMPs) Workshop: Sustainable Management of Tidal Area in the Era of Climate Change
Tehran, Iran 15-23 October 2011	21st International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme Water productivity towards food security Question 57: Water Management in Rainfed Agriculture Question 56: Water and Land Productivity Challenges
Lahore, Pakistan 13-18 October 2008	20th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme Participatory Integrated Water Resources Management - From Concepts to Actions Question 55: Roles of Public and Private Sectors in Water Resources Development and Management Question 54: Sustainable Integrated Water Resource Management
Beijing, China 10-18 September 2005	19th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme : Use of Water and Land for Food and Environmental Sustainability Question 53: Harmonious Coexistence with Flood Water Question 52: Improving Water and Land Management for Increasing Efficiency in Irrigated Agriculture
Montreal, Canada 21-28 July 2002	18th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme : Food Production Under Conditions of Water Scarcity, Increasing Population and Environmental Pressures Question 51: Integration and management of irrigation, drainage and flood control Question 50: Food production, poverty alleviation and environmental challenges as influenced by limited water resources and population growth
Granada, Spain 11-19 September 1999	17th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme : Water for Agriculture in the next millennium Question 49: Rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation and drainage systems. Question 48: Irrigation under conditions of water scarcity
Cairo, Egypt 15-22 September 1996	16th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme : Sustainability of irrigated agriculture Question 47: Irrigation planning and management: Measures in harmony with the environment. Question 46: Farmers' participation towards sustainable irrigated agriculture.
The Hague, Netherlands 04-11 September 1993	15th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme : Water management in the next century Question 45: Irrigation and drainage systems management - institutional and financial interrelationships. Question 44: Planning and design of irrigation and drainage systems.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 30 April-04 May 1990	14th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 43: The role of irrigation in mitigating the effects of drought. Question 42: The influence of irrigation and drainage on the environment with particular emphasis on impact on the quality of surface and ground waters.
Casablanca, Morocco 21-26 September 1987	13th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Theme : Improving water management in developing countries Question 41: Improving water management through training. Question 40: Rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation and drainage projects for improving water management.
Fort Collins, USA 28 May- 02 June 1984	12th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 39: Irrigation and drainage of problems soils. Question 38: Water management factors.
Grenoble, France 31 August 06 September 1981	11th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 37: Flood control in relation to land use planning and water management. Question 36: Improvement and modernization of existing irrigation and drainage systems.
Athens, Greece 24 May-04 June 1978	10th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 35: Operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems (Organization, maintenance equipment, operation, etc.). Question 34: Lateral subsurface drainage techniques and drainage construction methods. Question 33: Economic evaluation of irrigation projects - studies developed and case studies of economic and environmental effects.
Moscow, USSR 28 July-02 August 1975	9th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 32: Comparison of advanced methods of irrigation including development of irrigation by pumping. Question 31: Planning of development of ground water for irrigation. Question 30: Sediment controlling irrigation intake structures.
Varna, Bulgaria 17-27 May 1972	8th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 29: Factors affecting river training, and flood plain regulation (including flood zoning). Question 28: Recent and promising developments including mechanization of operations in the field of irrigation and drainage. Question 27: Field irrigation and drainage in deltaic, coastal and low-lying areas.
Mexico City, Mexico 9-19 April 1969	7th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 26: Development of new irrigable and drained areas - procedures and policies. Question 25: Methods and economics of operation and maintenance of drainage systems in agricultural areas. Question 24: Hydraulic structures on small channels. Question 23: Water requirements of crops.
New Delhi, India 4-13 January 1966	6th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 22: Integrated operation of reservoirs for irrigation, flood control and other purposes. Question 21: Development of deltaic areas. Question 20: Sediment in irrigation and drainage channels. Question 19: Reclamation of saline lands under irrigation.
Tokyo, Japan 14-21 May 1963	5th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 18: Flood prevention and control by surface and subsurface retention or spreading. Question 17: Control of water table in drained lands - prevention of overdrainage. Question 16: Efficiency of water distribution and use on the land. Question 15: Economics and financing of irrigation, and flood control works.
Madrid, Spain 29 May - 04 June 1960	4th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 14: Use of longitudinal embankments or levees as flood protection measures. Question 13: Tolerance of plants to minerals in solution in irrigation water and in soil. Question 12: Sprinkler irrigation and comparison with other methods of irrigation. Question 11: Reclamation of waterlogged and marshy lands.
San Francisco, USA 30 April -06 May 1957	3rd International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 10: Interrelation between irrigation and drainage. Question 9: Hydraulic structures on irrigation and drainage systems. Question 8: Soil and water relationship in irrigation. Question 7: Canal lining
Algiers, Algeria 12-17 April 1954	2nd International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 6: Ground Water : Its use for irrigation, safe yield from a unit area or basin, artificial recharge of supply and planned utilization of underground reservoirs. Question 5: The maintenance of irrigation and drainage channels with special reference to weed control. Question 4: Behavior of subsoil water table under a system of irrigation and/or drainage. Question 3: The problem of freeboard in irrigation channels.
Delhi, India 11-16 January 1951	1st International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage Question 2: Present-day problems in irrigation and drainage. Question 1: National review of irrigation development and practice.
Special Sessions held during ICID congresses
Year	Topics / Themes
2022	Developing the future tools for managing uncertainty in irrigation water supply
2017	Irrigation techniques for reuse of wastewater in agriculture and its impact on health and environment
2014	New Partnership for Rural Development
2011	Modernization of Water Management Schemes
2008	Implication of Global Changes on Irrigation and Drainage System Development and Management
2005	Legal and institutional challenges
2002	Research and development in irrigation, drainage and flood control
1999	Sustainable use of poor quality water
1996	The future of irrigation under increased demand from competitive uses of water and greater needs for food supply
1993	Irrigation and drainage competition for water
1990	Socio-economic and technological impacts of mechanized irrigation systems
1987	The role and integration of irrigation, drainage and flood control projects in the national development plans of developing countries
1984	Impact of the energy crisis on irrigation and drainage
1981	Methods of post-project evaluation : Achievements and remedial measures
1978	Mass transfer of water over long distances for regional development and its effects on the human environment
1975	Environmental control for irrigation, drainage and flood control projects
1972	Essential measures for introduction and development of irrigation and drainage schemes in developing countries
1969	Essential elements necessary for successful irrigated agriculture
1966	New and promising developments in the field of irrigation, drainage and flood control
Symposia's held during ICID congresses
Year	Topics / Themes
2022	Integrated Approaches to Irrigation Management in Future
2017	Global Review of institutional reforms in irrigation sector for sustainable agriculture water management
2014	Non-point Sources Pollution (NPS) and Best Management Practices (BMPs)
2011	Climate Change Impacts on Soil and Water Resources
2008	Integrated Water Management in the River Basin Context
2005	Water quality/salinity management
2002	Private sector participation in irrigation and drainage
1999	Irrigated agriculture - Constraints, future role and crop diversification
1996	Management information systems in irrigation and drainage
1993	The impact of real time information on system management
1990	Real-time scheduling of water deliveries
1987	Designing and operating irrigation systems, particularly on-farm systems, having insufficient capacity to meet peak water requirements in semi-arid regions, with emphasis on economics
1984	New developments in the protection of irrigation/drainage and flood control structures on rivers
1981	Principles of designing control systems for water resources and irrigation using modern techniques
1978	Development of techniques to recharge subterranean aquifers to conserve surplus river flows
1975	Introduction of automatic facilities for the needs of collecting and processing of information, planning and managing in the fields of irrigation and drainage
1972	Water resources system planning with special reference to irrigation, drainage and flood control
1969	The application of computers in the analysis of various problems relating to irrigation and drainage systems

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage