On August 25, 2026, Dr. OKURA Fumi, Researcher in the Rural Development Division of the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), received the Research Encouragement Award at the 2026 Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering (JSIDRE) Awards Ceremony held at Osaka Metropolitan University.

The Research Encouragement Award is presented in recognition of outstanding research achievements that have made significant contributions to the advancement of academic knowledge and technology related to agriculture and rural areas.

Dr. Okura received the award for her research, entitled "A Series of Studies on Cyclic Water Use and Allocation in Paddy Irrigation Systems," which she has conducted in Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and Japan. By combining field surveys, water-flow analysis, and computer-based simulations, she clarified the actual conditions of water reuse within paddy field systems and identified mechanisms for the efficient allocation of water resources.

Her research was also highly regarded for its originality, comprehensively analyzing not only the movement of water but also human decision-making processes and patterns of cooperation among stakeholders. Furthermore, the study generated insights applicable across a wide range of domestic and international cases.

These achievements were recognized as making significant contributions to the realization of sustainable agricultural water management and to the advancement of the field of irrigation, drainage, and rural engineering.