No Agriculture without Water

1. @ photo Arthus-Bertrand No Agriculture without Water Water for secure and viable agriculture

2. Why water is vital for food security Water needs per person in litres per day

3. Industry 21 % Agriculture 93 % Agriculture 69 % Industry 4 % Municipal 10 % Municipal 3 % Water withdrawal Water consumption Water use and food production • About 50% of accessible water resources are currently mobilized for human use • Agriculture represents 69% of all water use (85 to 95% in developing countries) but are the largest consumer • Irrigation represents less than 20% of cultivated land but contributes 40% to overall food production

4. Freshwater withdrawal for Agriculture % Agricultural withdrawal No data 0-5 5-10 10–20 20–40 >40 Map showing agricultural water withdrawal as percentage of renewable water resource in 1998 by country, where withdrawals for agriculture are critically high (category 5) and indicative of water stress (category 4).

5. 800 millions undernourished people % undernourished No data < 2.5 2.5–5 5–20 20–35 >35 Percentage of undernourished people by country (1997-1999). Prevalence of undernourishment is measured by the share of a country's total population that is undernourished

6. Sources of growth in crop production To meet the food demand between today and 2030 an increase in production of about 50 % is needed. FAO estimates that for 93 developing countries this increase will come from:

7. sub-Saharan Africa Latin America Near East/ North Africa South Asia East Asia 93 developing countries Irrigation efficiency (%) 1998 33 25 40 44 33 38 2030 37 25 53 49 34 42 Irrigation water withdrawals as a percentage of renewable water resources 1998 2 1 53 36 8 8 2030 3 2 58 41 8 9 Irrigation efficiency and withdrawal: in 1998 and 2030 • FAO estimates (for 93 developing countries) that in 2030: • - Irrigation efficiency is expected to improve from 38 to 42 % • water withdrawal is expected to grow by about 14 percent

8. No Agriculture without Water New approaches in agricultural water management

9. Improving rainfed production • Soil and water conservation techniques • Reduce run-off and increased water infiltration • contour stripping, terracing, micro-basins • Increased soil moisture storage • Increased soil and rooting depth • improve soil structure • Crop selection • Storage for supplemental irrigation • Tanks or ponds, groundwater

10. Improving water production • Shift in cropping pattern (from rice to wheat) • Increasing irrigation efficiency (60% water losses in irrigation) - Water saving technologies and management • Use of non-conventional water sources: -treated waste water -de-salinizated water • Drainage

11. Improving management -at scheme level Empowering people: • Allocation of land and water resources to users (men and women) • Power and responsibilities to the users (water use associations) • Irrigation modernization, moving from: • Protective to productive irrigation • A supply-oriented to service-demand approach • A centralised to a decentralised irrigation management

12. Improving management at farm level • Improving productivity at farm level implies the following actions • improving water use efficiency • diversify crops • This is done through: • training and information • investment in water saving technologies • improved market opportunities and credit.

13. Improving management and policies-at national and international level Reform of national water and land policies • Ensuring fair and equitable access • Secure water rights • Water management at the river basin (upstream-downstream) • Provide incentives to conserve water to reduce losses • Recognising the full value while protecting the poor • Regulations for protection of aquifers, rivers, lakes and wetlands (quality and quantity) International agreements on trans-boundary water resources Investments

14. Investments and financing sustainability Investment costs per ha Include technical and institutional costs. Operation and maintenance cost are estimated to be 10 % of the investment costs

15. No Agriculture without Water Pro-poor and affordable agriculture water management

16. Role of water in poverty alleviation • Raise food supply and cash income • Reduced migration from rural areas to cities • Irrigation allows for timely, secure increase in production without increasing the land holding • Conditions • Affordable technologies • Local manufacturing capacity • Land, water and technology should be under farmer control • low operation and maintenance costs • Easy to install and to operate Pro-poor policies, actions and technoloies needed.

17. Traditional approaches in South America Requires animal use and high management skills Case 1: Conservation Agriculture Alternative forms of tillage prevents crust formation and maintains an organic soil cover Reduced erosion and water losses

18. Case 2: Water harvesting Collecting of water in structures ranging from small furrows to dams Allows farmers to conserve rainwater and direct it to crop for increased food security in drought prone areas • Traditional approaches in arid and semi-arid countries • High productivity • Less risks • Vulnerable to dry periods • Requires water use groups Example: Keita valley in Niger tree plantation with trenches

19. Case 3: Low-cost well drilling Hand drilling technique from Asia helps farmers to improve their access to water • Simple and manual • Low cost • Limited drilling depth

20. Case 4: Water lifting Simple pumping technologies combined with improved surface water distribution techniques helps farmers to manage the water better and reduce losses • Simple • Low costs • No risk for groundwater overexploitation • Requires time and cultural acceptance Example: Treadle pumps From Asia to Africa

21. Case 5: Family-kit drip irrigation Complete drip irrigation system for 50-2500 m2 household food security, income from high value crops and major reduces in water losses

22. No Agriculture without Water Managing the environmental and health impacts of irrigated agriculture

23. Overuse and misuse of water in irrigated agriculture deprive downstream users (inc. environment) Poor management of irrigation and lack of sufficient drainage waterlogging and salinity problems Drawbacks of drainage risk for flooding downstream and reduced groundwater recharge Overuse of groundwater falling groundwater levels Waterlogging Health hazards Salinization Impacts of irrigation

24. Mitigating of adverse effects On health and environment • Water conservation • Reuse of drainage water • Treatment of drainage water • Safe disposal of drainage water • Reducing favorable conditions for vector-born and water-related diseases by: • improved management of irrigation systems (decrease breeding sites) • regular maintenance of irrigation systems.

25. Prevention • Prevention of water-borne and water-washed diseases can be done through: • Education , training, media campaigns • Improved drinking water supplies, sanitation and housing • Strict control over the wastewater effluent quality being discharged • Problem: In many countries, treatment facilities are inadequate or lacking altogether.

26. Conclusions • Water is an essential element to secure food production, but it is not the only one; • Development of land and water resources will need to be much more strategic; • Agriculture has to improve water productivity • We have to empower the water users • Agriculture has to shoulder its environmental responsibilities • Investments are needed

27. Thank you ! World food day: http://www.fao.org/wfd/ Water service: http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/