After conducting preliminary negotiations with the former Deputy Director of International Agriculture Research and Training Centre (UTAEM) of Turkey during the International Training Workshop on AquaCrop model in Tehran 2009 as well as negotiations in RCUWM’s Training Workshop in Tajikistan, 2010 in regard to initiate and develop mutual cooperation between RCUWM  and UTAEM which led to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between 2 Centres, it was agreed to hold a regional training workshop on “sustainable water use” as the first joint activities by two centres.

Within a period of around 9 months, necessary steps have been taken between the two Centres in concern with organizing an International Training Workshop on “Sustainable Water Use in Conditions of Climate Change” held in Izmir, Turkey on 25 to 27 July, 2011.

The International Agricultural Research and Training Centre of Turkey is one of the important and active entities of Turkey in the field of water and agriculture. Considering the excellent facilities of the centre in Izmir as well as covering the local costs by UTAEM as well as partial international costs by RCUWM during the workshop, it was agreed to hold this event in Izmir.

 Considering the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture, Turkey to attend the RCUWM eighth Governing Board Meeting, holding this event by two entities from Iran and Turkey as the first activity by Turkey in RCUWM, was so important and was considered as one of the most important joint activities of the two countries in the field of water in recent years.

Although the subject of the workshop was related to water and agriculture, the main aim of RCUWM for holding this event was to promote water-saving in agriculture. For instance, 10 % increase in water efficiency, would lead to solving many water shortage problems in many urban areas.

Objectives

Among the main objectives of the workshop, the following items can be mentioned:

 Strengthening Human Resources, organizational capacity building and improving public awareness on urban water challenges

  • Improving human resources and capacity building in order to raise awareness about climate change issues
  • Familiarize participants with the climate change / variability and modelling concepts
  • Familiarize participants with the principles of climate change and water stress  mitigation in sustainable water use
  • Making an opportunity to exchange opinions and views of participants
  • The special importance of the event for RCUWM as the first joint activity with Turkey