Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture
Type | Independent scientific assessment |
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Website | www |
The report A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture[1] was published in 2007 by International Water Management Institute and Earthscan in an attempt to answer the question: how can water in agriculture be developed and managed to help end poverty and hunger, ensure environmentally sustainable practices, and find the right balance between food and environmental security?
History
Compiled after consultation with more than 700 individuals, numerous organisations and networks, it was the first critical evaluation of:
- the benefits, costs and impacts of the past 50 years of water development
- water managementchallenges facing communities today
- successful methods of managing water in farming around the world.
The assessment confirmed that
Trends affecting demands for water
The report's authors forecast that the need for water would double within 50 years, due to
How feeding the future world will be possible
The conclusion made by the report's authors was that only by changing the way we use water within agriculture would we be able to meet the acute water, environment and poverty challenges facing us over the next 50 years. They suggested that with wise policies and investments in irrigation, upgrading
Shaping future water policy
The report recommended eight policy actions:
- Change the way we think about water and agriculture. Rain should be viewed as the ultimate source of water to be managed, and agriculture as part of an agro-ecosystem that provides food but also delivers other environmental services, such as maintaining soil fertility.
- Fight poverty by improving access to agricultural water and its use. This would be achieved by promoting livelihood gains by smallholder farmers, for example by securing water access through rights and developing multiple-use water supply systems.
- Manage agriculture to enhance ecosystem services. This would involve using good agricultural practicesto enhance other ecosystem services.
- Increase the productivity of water. The outcome would be higher yields and value from smaller volumes of water, thus reducing demand and environmental impacts.
- Upgrade rainfed agriculture by improving soil moisture and using supplemental irrigation. This holds the greatest potential for lifting people out of poverty and increasing water productivity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Adapt yesterday's irrigation for tomorrow's needs. Modernisation would require a mix of technological and management upgrades.
- Reform the reform process, targeting state institutions. Water management investments should embrace irrigated and fisheriesand livestock practices.
- Deal with trade-offs and make difficult choices. Informed multi-stakeholder negotiations would be essential.
References
- ^ Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. 2007. Water for Food, Water for Life, A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. London: Earthscan, and Colombo: International Water Management Institute
- ^ Map details global water stress, BBC, 21 August 2006
- ^ World water demand surging due to rising population, Alister Doyle, Reuters, 18 September 2006
- ^ Need for Water Could Double in 50 Years, U.N. Study Finds, New York Times, August 22, 2006
- ^ Water Management: Urgent Need For More Food With Less Water, Science Daily, March 27, 2007.
- ^ Andy Coughlan, Catch every drop to fight world hunger, New Scientist, August 26, 2006