With the help of the United Nations International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) was established on June 24, 1950. It was an international organization established for the purpose of scientific, technical, and non-profit-making. In 1993, it became an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with a total of 110 member countries.
There are 78 permanent participating member countries, including 17 African National Committees, 6 American National Committees, and 28 national committees in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, over 90% of the world's irrigated areas are under ICID's service area.
ICID is committed to the research of irrigation, drainage, flood control, and environmental management, hoping to enhance the productivity of global food resources while maintaining the concept of sustainable irrigation agriculture. The purpose of ICID is to apply engineering, agri-food, economic, ecological, social and other professional fields to the management of soil and water resources. So far, ICID has nearly 70 years of experience in water management technology and related issues.
ICID organizes large-scale international irrigation and drainage technology symposiums in conjunction with its annual conference every three years and publishes special reports. 24 working groups have been set up under PCSO and the Permanent Committee on Technical Activities (PCTA). The term of office of each working group office ranges between 3 and 6 years. Every year, ICID evaluates the tasks and achievements of the working groups, and discusses whether new working groups need to be set up.
