Framework Themes

1. Water for Growth and Development >>
2. Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) >>
3. Water Supply and Sanitation for All >>
4. Water Management for Food and the Environment >>
5. Risk Management >>

4. Water Management for Food and the Environment

Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the world with close to 70% of freshwater withdrawals. Water for food for a growing population is becoming an important challenge due to increasing competition and conflict experienced between different uses and the environment. It is necessary to achieve greater irrigation efficiency and water productivity in agriculture with due consideration for safeguarding the environment.

Synergies between water and agricultural policies need to be reinforced in order to enhance sector benefits and support rural livelihoods. Securing water quantity and quality for livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, while maintaining ecosystem functions, is also very important for poverty alleviation and environmental protection strategies.

Primary Discussion Aspects

Inputs sought for local actions –already underway or planned– comprising the following aspects:

• Innovative financing to support more efficient irrigation schemes, including small scale farming and marginal groups, and community-based actions.
• Initiatives facing the challenges and opportunities in transferring responsibility for operating and maintaining irrigation systems for farmer and water user associations.
• Synergies and contradictions between agricultural and environmental practices and policies.
• Understanding the complementarities in supply and demand-side management strategies (cost recovery, cross and direct subsidies, awareness campaigns and education, etc.).
• Initiatives addressing the challenges and opportunities for reliable water supply for food production in semi-arid and arid regions (e.g. rain fed agriculture, virtual water, hydroponics, wetland management, water saving technology, agricultural reconversion, transgenic technologies, etc.).
• Adequate and effective policies for sustainable groundwater management for food production.
• Public-private partnerships in large irrigation schemes (social and economic considerations).