Irrigation water from its source is conveyed up to a farm and subsequently applied to crops through various irrigation methods- surface (basins, furrows, and border strips), sprinkler, and micro irrigation. Vast amount of water goes waste if it is not applied efficiently and uniformly all over the field. Improperly planned, designed and laid/ installed irrigation system leads to losses such as deep percolation, runoff, evaporation, and wind drift affecting the performance of the system. Today a vast range of sprinkler and micro irrigation technology is available to fit all types of soil, crops, climates and farm sizes. Modern micro irrigation systems can achieve as high as 95% application efficiency leading to significant water saving.

The Working Group on On-Farm Irrigation Systems (WG-ON-FARM) promotes on-farm irrigation as part of integrated water resources management, and sustainable efficient approach for on-farm irrigation. The group has brought out many publications (manuals and guidelines) for planning, design and evaluation of micro and sprinkler irrigation systems. One of the important activities of the WG is compilation of the worldwide ‘Sprinkler and Micro irrigated Areas’. As per the latest compilation, worldwide more than 46 million ha (comprising 36 million ha sprinkler irrigation and 10 million ha of micro irrigation) are irrigated by these irrigation technologies. ICID is a ‘Liaison Member’ of ISO/TC23/SC18 since over a decade.

Another important activity of the WG is to organize’ International Micro Irrigation Congress/ Symposium’ on periodic basis.

Scoping Document

1. Questionnaire : Worldwide usage of micro & sprinkler irrigation (Revised, January 2006)
2. Report to ISO SC18, participation to the 19th ICID Congress, Beijing, September 2005
3. List of Irrigation Standards (ISO and CEN)
4. Questionnaire on "Energy Requirements for Irrigation"