Climate change poses a critical threat to global agricultural systems, primarily through its disruption of hydrological cycles, leading to increased water scarcity, erratic rainfall, and more frequent and severe droughts and floods. These challenges undermine agricultural productivity and food security, necessitating a shift from traditional, fragmented water management approaches towards a holistic and adaptive paradigm. This research assesses the efficacy of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) as a foundational strategy for building climate-resilient agriculture. IWRM is a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare without compromising ecosystem sustainability. Through a systematic review of case studies and meta-analysis of project outcomes from diverse agro-climatic zones, this research evaluates the impact of key IWRM components, including participatory governance, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, rainwater harvesting, soil moisture conservation, and the use of efficient irrigation technologies. Our findings demonstrate that agricultural systems implementing IWRM principles exhibit significantly enhanced resilience to climate variability. Specifically, IWRM adoption led to a 20-35% improvement in water productivity, a 15-30% reduction in crop failure risk during drought periods, and a more equitable distribution of water resources among stakeholders. This research identifies participatory water user associations and adaptive management frameworks as critical success factors, enabling local communities to collectively manage resources and respond to changing climatic conditions. Conversely, top-down implementation, lack of financing, and weak institutional capacity were the primary barriers to effective IWRM. We conclude that IWRM is not merely a technical toolkit but a vital governance and planning framework that can synchronize agricultural water use with ecological limits and climatic realities. Its widespread adoption is essential for transforming agriculture into a buffer against, rather than a victim of, climate change, thereby securing sustainable food production in an increasingly water-insecure world.

drip irrigation; central pivot irrigation; sustainable; hydrogel; SWAT model

environmental engineering

Presentation: poster