Water Resources Demand Management at National

LevelMALAYSIA

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CURRENT WATER RESOURCES DEMAND CONDITIONS AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES - SITUATION

Malaysia

• Population – 28.25 mill. (2010)• Land area – 33 mill. Ha Peninsular Malaysia – 13 mil Ha Sabah and Sarawak – 20 mil Ha• Total cultivated area – 6.2 mill.

Ha (40% cultivable)• 90% cultivated area – palm oil,

rubber & fruit trees• 10% cash crops – mainly paddy

• Equatorial climate• 2 distinct monsoons – 60%

annual rain falls in Nov. to Jan.

• Avg. rainfall 2500 mm/yr• Mean relative humidity –

78% - 87% • Annual bright sunshine

hours of 1764 – 2664 hours

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Agriculture Land Use

Name Area ( ‘000 ha )Rubber 1,395Oil Palm 3,465

Paddy 475

Fruits 330

Coconut 193

Cocoa 160

Vegetables 64

Pepper 9

Tobacco 8

Others 111

TOTAL 6,210

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Paddy Areas

Total paddy area ~ 475,000 ha• Granary area ~ 210,000

ha• Non-granary area ~ 265,000

ha

Irrigated area ~ 120,000 ha

Non-Irrigated area ~ 145,000 ha• Wet paddy ~ 85,000

ha• Upland Paddy ~ 60,000

ha

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RICE PRODUCTION IN MALAYSIA 2004 - 2009 (‘000 TONS)

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009p Peninsular Malaysia

1,911 1,937 1,813 2,031 2,013 2,127

Granary Areas 1,531 1,587 1,460 1,626 1,632 1,662

Sabah 162 150 133 134 133 104

Sarawak 218 227 239 209 207 230

Malaysia 2,291 2,314 2,187 2,375 2,353 2,460

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CURRENT STATUS OF WATER RESOURCES DEMAND CONDITIONS AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES

SITUATION

Water Resources in Malaysia 150 major river basins – agriculture

consume 70% water Avg. annual rainfall 2,500 mm = 990 BCM

Groundwater resource estimated safe yield of 64 BCM

No physical water scarcity Spatial and temporal distribution of

rainfall is not uniform Require more storage and optimization of

rainfall

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WATER RESOURCES DEMAND CONDITIONSCURRENT AND PROJECTED DEMAND

2010 2020 2030 2040 20500

5

10

15

20

25

30

PotableIrrigationOther CropsLivestockFisheries

Year

Wat

er D

eman

d (m

m)

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AGRICULTURAL WATER DEMANDIN MALAYSIA

Agricultural water demand in Malaysia is currently stand at 13 BCM, mainly for paddy irrigation.

Total paddy planting area is 360,000 ha (270,000 ha irrigated, 90,000 ha rain-fed).

Projected irrigation demands IS PREDICTED TO BE slightly decrease based on improve irrigation efficiencies, improve farming practices, introduction paddy strains with shorter growing periods and other measures

The Future agriculture water demand is based on Agro-Food Policy (2010-2020) formulated MOA to achieve certain Self Sufficiency Level in Agro-Food production

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WATER DEMAND ISSUES IN MALAYSIA

Agriculture consume almost 70% of water extracted from rivers

Most of water extracted is for rice cultivation Rice is very important crop for National Food

Security and source of income for 300,000 farmers Malaysia produced 70% - 75% of rice required for

local consumption annually The current Food Policy on rice productions is to

produce at least 70% of SSL Farmers income in rice industry to be uplifted to

USD3,000 annually As no land suitable for new rice cultivation,

production need to increase through higher yield and cropping intensity

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WATER DEMAND ISSUES IN MALAYSIA

To increase yield requires reliable and adequate water supply

Additional water will be required to increase cropping intensity

Water deficit occurs during annual low flow periods and drought years

Irrigation schemes depending on river run-off without reservoirs, vulnerable to water shortage

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RICE CULTIVATION IN MALAYSIA

Rice cultivation in irrigated areas practice flooding system

Avg. yield = 3.8 kg/ha Wet direct seeding is widely practiced since

20 years ago Reliable water supply is foremost in this

practiced to control the growth of weeds and other field activities

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KADA

Northwest Selangor

MADA IADP P. Pinang Besut

Kemasin Semerak

Kerian

Seberang Perak

Sg. Manik

GRANARY AREAMini Granary Area (74)

LEGEND

..

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RICE CULTIVATION IN MALAYSIA - FUTURE

• Increase cropping intensity to 5 season in 2 yrs (CI = 225%) is one of the future option to increase production

• Non granary areas with available water source will be upgraded to increase yield and cropping intensity through the provision of new water source

• New areas to be developed are mainly in Sabah and Sarawak where water sources are available

• Apart from developing new water source, water for irrigation need to be secured through increase water use efficiency all levels of irrigation supply

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ADAPTATIONS MEASURES FOR DEMAND CONDITIONS - IN PLANNING

• IWRM in managing the water sector and the catchment. Effective implementation of IWRM contribute to the realization of the national water vision

• Revision to water laws and formation of a department to manage water resources

• Revision of Irrigation laws• Full farmers participation in irrigation

management• Reviewing irrigation design procedures to

meet future demand management in irrigation management

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DEMAND ADAPTATION MEASURES IN PLACE

IRRIGATION SYSTEM LEVEL• Reduce conveyance losses through canal

lining and pipeline network• Proper water management and controlling of

losses through application of new technologies for real time monitoring of spills, flow measurements

• Automation of regulators using automatic control system and other physical means

• Design and operation water infrastructures based on service concept: Reliable, flexible on-demand supply

• Optimization of naturally available water sources: rainfall and uncontrolled surface flow (rivers)

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ADAPTATIONS MEASURES FOR DEMAND CONDITIONS - IN PLACE

• Improve irrigation efficiency at all irrigation water supply levels

• More effective or more extensive rainwater harvesting and storing in the paddy fields

• Develop seed varieties that are more resistant to water stress, shorter growth duration and produce high yield with less water

• Good agricultural water management practices to secure land and environment

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ADAPTATIONS MEASURES FOR DEMAND CONDITIONS - IN PLACE

On-farm level and tertiary system• Reduce irrigation period and water saving

irrigation practices.• Rearrangement of lot size, shape and level • Transplanting - reduce requirement of water

for weeds control• Strengthen farmer’s institution• Crop management and variety: high yield

variety, high value crop, shorter duration• Best Management Practice and precision

agriculture: Conserve water, energy, labour and environment.

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DEMAND MITIGATION MEASURES IN PLACE AND IN PLANNING

Development of alternative water source, such as groundwater to be used during drought

Development of water reuse or recycle facilities- PUMP AND RESERVOIRS

Redesign and improvement of drainage structures to store water and to regulate water level when required

Developing of Drought management plan for all irrigation schemes

SCADA system to monitor real time water situation in rivers, reservoirs and irrigation systems

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Demand Mgmt. Policies & Programs

National Level Policies

• National Water Resources Policy - Water Resources Sustainability- Federal and State Governments will look at

optimising and minimising wastage of water resources and address aspects related to demand management

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Demand Mgmt. Policies & Programs

National Demand Management Programs and InvestmentsPrograms in the National Food Security• Increase irrigation infrastructure to optimum

level of 50 m/ha – reduce water loss• Land Leveling – implement land leveling to

improve efficiency of good agricultural practicesGovernment Programs• Rehabilitation, upgrading and modernize

existing irrigation scheme• Improve management, O&M to increase water

use efficiency• Provide incentive for commercial paddy farming

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Demand Mgmt. Policies & Programs

National Demand Management Programs and Investments .. Cont..Government Programs• Continuously worked through research and

collaboration with International and Regional organizations in increasing agriculture water use efficiency, demand management and sustainable water use through various programs:-- such as Benchmarking, Rapid Appraisal

Procedures (RAPs) Evaluation, MASSCOTE, Capacity building, Conferences, country visits, pilot projects and technical studies.,

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Demand Mgmt. Policies & Programs

Strengthening Water User Group (e.g. Farmers participation in decision making processes)

Research and Development

Remote Sensing Technology

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National demand management programs and investments

Irrigation Modernization programs to increase irrigation efficiency

Development of water recycle facilities and reservoirs

Land consolidation and land levelling Provision of SCADA and telemetry system

for efficient water management Training of farmers and establishment of

Water User Group

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LESSONS LEARNED

Proper irrigation scheduling can result in significant savings in irrigation time, labour, energy, and water. By carefully managing the amount of water applied, leaching of nutrients and erosion can be reduced.

No single agency entrusted with the overall planning and management of water. There is a need for one agency to pursue a more effective water management.

Lack of people awareness on WDM issues and the greater lack of trained personnel equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge on WDM

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Lessons Learned

• Recycling drainage water for irrigation- Fourth water source for irrigation

In Muda irrigation scheme, all the recycling pumps contribute 17% of the water from reservoir.

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Lessons Learned

• Reduce conveyance losses through canal lining and pipeline network.

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Best Practices in Demand Mgmt.

• Telemetry system to Muda area for managing water demand- Information

(rainfall/water level) to priorities on the effective and optimum usage of water resources,

- Information (water level/gate opening) for decision on water distribution

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PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES REGARDING DEMAND MANAGEMENT

AND RESPONSE To provide appropriate irrigation system and

infrastructures to meet demand management requirement

Small size, irregular shape and unlevel paddy fields in most paddy areas

To get farmers cooperation to practice efficient water management at tertiary level

Provision of government annual budget for O&M of irrigation scheme to support State Government

• Develop seed variety that are more resistant to water stress and shorter growth duration - use less water

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PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES REGARDING DEMAND MANAGEMENT

AND RESPONSE SMALL SIZE, IRREGULAR SHAPE AND

UNLEVEL PADDY FIELD IN MOST OF PADDY AREAS IN MALAYSIA...WHY??

• It is difficult to manage water and apply modern farming activities

• Require more intensity of irrigation infrastructure

• Have to deal with many farmers

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PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES REGARDING DEMAND MANAGEMENT

AND RESPONSE TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE IRRIGATION

SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURES TO MEET DEMAND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS.....WHY??• Permanent reservoirs are required for

demand management and water saving • Installation of infrastructures requires

significant investment• Demand management requires the

coordination of all level irrigation management

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PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES REGARDING DEMAND MANAGEMENT

AND RESPONSE TO GET FARMERS’ COOPERATION TO

PRACTICE EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT AT TERTIARY AND ON FARM LEVELS.....WHY??• Farmers age and level of education• No water charge imposed• Too many farmers• No nurtured farmers organisation• Existing field infrastructures are

difficult to manage and to operate

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NEW DEMAND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES BEING DEVELOPED OR

IN PROGRESS

R&D in the search of appropriate tertiary canal to meet demand management

Guidelines and procedures for modern design of irrigation infrastructures

Land levelling and land consolidation is associated with new irrigation design

Encouragement of using pipelines as irrigation conveyance

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Important factors to consider and principles to follow in demand

management policies

• Ideal situation is for the government at all levels federal, state and local – to work together towards demand management

• No single consolidated water policy for the country, at least not yet. If there were one, it involves managing water demand as a priority before rushing head-on to yet another large scale supply side-management project.

• Acceptance of farmers is crucial in all demand management policies

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CONCLUSION

Future water demand scenario in Malaysia requires supply and demand management

Demand management is required to reduce the pressure to develop new water source infrastructures to meet future demand

Demand management requires investment and innovation in new irrigation infrastructure, management and capacity building

Sharing of knowledge and experiences in demand management and demand response in irrigation water management among ASEAN countries will contribute to meet future water demand for irrigation