Global agricultural leaders and professionals are to gather next month at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage Congress hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Korea Rural Community Corporation.

The ICID Congress ― the largest international conference on irrigation and drainage ― will bring together up to 1,200 government officials and specialists from 60 countries who will share their knowledge and research in Gwangju from Sept. 14-20.

Under the theme “Securing Water for Food and Rural Community under Climate Change,” the congress will offer a platform for experts’ discussions on critical pending issues, according to the organizers.

“This is the first time for South Korea to host the ICID Congress since the nation became a member in 1969. We hope to share the country’s successful agricultural development with other member countries,” said Lee Sang-mu, president of the Korea Rural Community Corporation.

The government plans to introduce the participants to the Youngsan River project, which is heralded as a top practice for national agricultural development. The project involved developing farmlands for agricultural production and building an eco-friendly agricultural complex near Youngsan River in the country’s southwest region.

Also at the congress, top officials from about 20 nations, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Congo, Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar, are expected to gather to discuss ways to promote agricultural businesses and to deal with global food shortage issues.

The ICID is a nongovernmental organization consisting of 96 member nations, and partners with 50 international organizations including the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank and the World Meteorological Organization, to deal with global issues on water, agriculture, environment and food.

South Korea joined the organization in 1969 and later set up the Korean National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage in 1992, which does relevant research and holds symposiums to mark Water Day every year.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)