

The triennial World Irrigation Forum (WIF) aims to bring together all the stakeholders relevant to the field of irrigation, drainage and other aspects of water management.
WIF is a multi-sectoral platform creating avenues for discussions and engagement for everyone, the governments of relevant countries, policymakers the multi-lateral and bi-lateral organizations, civil society institutions, the grass-root farmers as well as corporate leaders. Every WIF attracts veterans, experts, and acclaimed researchers and academicians from various sectors to bring all possible issues and forthcoming solutions to the forum concerning the sector. In fact, in its second-year only, WIF2 was held at Bali, Indonesia in 2019 and witnessed a footfall of over fifteen hundred participants.
In the face of depleting freshwater resources, a growing population, and emerging global health concerns as a result of global warming and climate change, WIF provides an open space for the world irrigation community and interested development professionals to find solutions to problems plaguing the agriculture and water landscape globally. A unique platform for sharing and learning by engaging and in the process creating knowledge and disseminating it globally.
The World Irrigation Forum stimulates and promotes collaborative actions and discussions towards sustainable solutions to water management in agriculture. Core activities covered under WIF are
- Exchange of latest irrigation and drainage policies, practices, innovations, and technologies;
- Exploring and formulating concrete inter-disciplinary proposals;
- Development of liaison/ collaboration among various national / international institutions/ organizations/ private sector working for irrigated agriculture; and
- Advocacy for political commitments
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING WORLD IRRIGATION FORUMS
Due to unavoidable circumstances, the World Irrigation Forum 4 planned at Beijing in April 2023 has to be postponed to 2027. With this, the World Irrigation Forum planned at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in 2025 is now re-designated as World Irrigation Forum 4. The World Irrigation Forum to be held in 2027 in China is now re-designated as World Irrigation Forum 5. As a consequence of the long delay, the Theme and sub-themes for the World Irrigation Forum (China) are also under reconsideration. The themes for the World Irrigation Forum 4 (Kuala Lumpur) are still under finalization.
All contributors to the different World Irrigation Forums are requested to await further announcements for planning their contributions to the events.
forthcoming event(s) -
Date | Details | Location/Country |
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Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025 | 4th World Irrigation Forum (WIF4)![]() Sub-Theme 1: Policy, Science and Community Challenges In Innovation and Irrigation Technology Development Sub-Theme 2: Integrated Water Management Practices Toward Sustainability Sub-Theme 3: Improving Irrigation Management For Agricultural Production and Food Security NC Contact : Mr. Mohamad Radzi Bin Abdul Talib, Chairman, Malaysian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (MANCID) Director of Division of Irrigation and Agriculture Drainage, C/o Drainage and Irrigation Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry Malaysia, 2nd Floor, Galeria PJH No. 29 Precint 4, 62570 Putrajaya Email : mancidmalaysia@gmail.com; mancid.org@gmail.com, Tel. : +603-8894 3000 |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Jan 01, 2027 - Jan 01, 2027 | 5th World Irrigation Forum (WIF5)![]() ![]() Theme - Modernization of Irrigation Systems Sub-Theme 1: Policy and strategy for modernization of irrigation systems Sub-Theme 2: Technology for modernization of irrigation systems Sub-Theme 3: Financing for modernization of irrigation systems Sub-Theme 4: Performance assessment of Irrigation systems NC Contact : Mr. Gao Lihui, Executive Secretary, Chinese National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (CNCID), 1, Yuyuantan South Road Beijing 100038 Email : gaolh@iwhr.com, cncid_office@sina.com, lihui.gao@qq.com, Fax : +86 10 6878 1153 Tel. : +86 10 6878 1193 Resources : Brochure ; Themes & Sub-themes ; Online paper submission; Call for Papers; Guidelines for Authors; Paper Submission Template |
Guoce International Conference & Exhibition Center, Beijing, China |
Past Event(s)+
Past World Irrigation Forum
Date | Details | Location/Country |
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Sep 01, 2019 - Sep 07, 2019 | Third World Irrigation Forum (WIF3) Theme - Development for water, food and nutrition security in a competitive environment Sub-Theme 1: Enabling Policy Environment for Water, Food and Energy Security Sub-Theme 2: Role of Civil Society and Non-State actors with Focus on Farmers and Extension Facilities Sub-Theme 3: Improving Agricultural Water Productivity with Focus on Rural Transformation Workshops - Total 6 International Workshops were organized on a variety of topics related to the theme and sub-themes NC Contact : Dr. Sarwo Edhy, Chairman, Indonesian National Committee of ICID (INACID), Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of Public Works and Housing Jl. Pattimura No.20, RW.1, Selong, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12110 Resources : Highlights of the Event |
Bali, Indonesia, Indonesia |
Nov 06, 2016 - Nov 12, 2016 | Second World Irrigation Forum (WIF2) Theme - Water management in a changing World: Role of Irrigation for Sustainable Food Production Sub-Theme 1: Key Issues of Irrigation and Drainage in Balancing Water, Food, Energy and Ecology Sub-Theme 2: Management of Climatic Extremes with Focus on Floods and Droughts Sub-Theme 3: Key and Smart Actions to Alleviate Hunger and Poverty through Irrigation and Drainage Side Events - A total of 17 side events were organized on a variety of topics related to the theme and sub-themes NC Contact : Mr. Praphit Chanma, President of THAICID, Thai National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (THAICID), Director General of Royal Irrigation Department Royal Irrigation Department Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives 811 Samsen Road, Thanon-NakornchaiSri Dusit Bangkok 10300 Resources : Highlights of the Event |
Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Sep 29, 2013 - Oct 03, 2013 | First World Irrigation Forum (WIF1) Theme - Irrigation and drainage in a changing world: Challenges and opportunities for global food security Sub-Theme 1: Policy, Science and Society Interactions Sub-Theme 2: Challenges and Developments in FinancingIrrigation and Drainage Sector Sub-Theme 3: Integrated Water Management Approachesfor Sustainable Food Production Workshops - International Workshops: Water Wisdom andSustainability; Developing ManagementStrategies for Coping with Drought and Water Scarcity; and Management of Water, Cropsand Soils under Climate Change Side Events - A total of 23 side events were organized on a variety of topics related to the theme and sub-themes NC Contact : Mr. Oğuzhan Bektas, Secretary General, Turkish National Committee, ICID (TUCID), Head of Project and Construction Department of DSI (State Hydraulic Works), Devlet Mahallesi Inonu Bulvari No:16, 06100 Cankaya / ANKARA Resources : Highlights of the Event |
Mardin, Turkey, Turkey |