Water, as the key natural resource, is fundamental to all economic, social and environmental development processes. Thus, efficient water resources management is essential for achieving poverty reduction through sustainable water management in irrigated agriculture. Proper irrigation systems can secure uninterrupted agriculture. Irrigation schemes play a key role in assuring timely and adequate agricultural water supply apart from other benefits. ICID has taken an initiative to document development of irrigation in the World through irrigation schemes. The register will fulfil a much-awaited global repository of information in the systematic irrigation and agricultural water management.  the register is being implementing as a collaborative effort of National Committees of ICID and other interested entities dealing with irrigation and drainage.
Various registers exist in the field of engineering structures and other entities, the most notable from the water resources angle being the World Register of Dams being maintained by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). ICID is also maintaining a World Register of Heritage Irrigation Structures and awards recognition to the structures meeting the eligibility criteria.

Most registers examined are about structures and individual components of a system and none recording the features of irrigation and/or drainage project on a worldwide scale. It is, therefore, felt that such a register should be established for irrigation projects and ICID being a key player in the fields of irrigation and drainage is the most suitable agency for the establishment of a Register on “World Irrigation and Drainage Schemes”. The authenticity of the schemes in the register will be obtained through ICID National Committees. More details...