South Africa has secured five awards at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage conference in Marseille, France, including recognition for four irrigation heritage sites and the country’s top-performing national committee.

Thembelihle Mabanga

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South Africa has won five awards at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) conference in Marseille, France, highlighting the country’s work in sustainable water management, agricultural irrigation and food security.

The awards were presented on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, with the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID) and researchers from several institutions recognised for their contributions to the sector.

The South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) congratulated its Arid Land Node Manager, Dr Zanele Ntshidi, who attended the conference as part of the South African delegation and serves as an executive member of SANCID.

Among the achievements was the addition of four South African irrigation structures to the World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) register.

The recognised sites are Bulshoek Dam, Nqweba Dam, Upper Van Stadens Dam and the Vaal Barrage Structure.

The global register documents irrigation and drainage systems recognised for their contribution to agricultural development and food security through sustainable water supply.

SANCID also received the award for best-performing National Committee, outperforming competing committees from Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Researchers and representatives from NRF-SAEON, the Water Research Commission, the Agricultural Research Council, the University of the Free State and the Department of Agriculture received the awards on behalf of South Africa.

The achievement highlights the role of collaboration between public institutions, researchers and other stakeholders in addressing environmental challenges and improving water management.

“This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration and strong partnerships. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, expertise, and resources around a shared vision, we were able to maximise our collective impact and achieve this desirable result,” Ntshidi said.

SANCID represents South Africa at the ICID and works to advance sustainable irrigation and water management in line with the country's Vision 2030 and National Water Resource Strategy.

Its strategic priorities include strengthening food security through efficient irrigation, supporting economic growth while addressing pressure on national water infrastructure, and protecting water resources against growing scarcity.

The committee also recognises the links between water security, energy production, agricultural productivity and quality of life.

At the conference, Ntshidi presented her research titled Long-term research on water and food security: Empowering female emerging farmers to grow food that feeds nations.

Her presentation focused on climate-smart agriculture and the need to build climate-resilient communities capable of improving food security.

The recognition comes as sustainable water use remains important to South Africa's agricultural sector, where reliable water supplies are essential for food production and rural economic development.

The five awards highlight the country's contribution to international irrigation research and the preservation of infrastructure that supports agricultural water management.