Agriculture accounts for about 70% of water withdrawals worldwide, but about 90% in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Increasing scarcity of fresh water and growing competition, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, is a serious constraint on agricultural production.
According to the state of food and agriculture 2020 report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), approximately 1,2 billion people live in areas where severe water shortages and scarcity challenge agriculture, from very high drought frequency in dryland cropland and pastureland areas to very high water stress in irrigated areas. This means that about one in six people on the planet face severe water shortages and scarcity in agriculture. If areas with high (in addition to very high) severe drought frequency or water stress are also considered, the number of people affected increases to 3,2 billion, of whom more than 40% (1,4 billion) live in rural areas.
As the report further indicates, these current estimates of water scarcity in agriculture globally can serve as a global assessment of the future potential impacts of climate change on water constraints.
“Water in these areas is likely to be a constraint [on] agricultural livelihoods and for most households, and unless demand and user practices change or alternate water resources are found, people may be driven to migrate,” the report states. Previous research by the FAO has found that 128 million hectares of dryland cropland and 656 million hectares of pastureland face frequent droughts, while 171 million hectares of irrigated cropland are subject to high or very high water stress. This means that about 11% of dryland cropland and 14% of pastureland experience severe recurring droughts, while more than 60% of irrigated cropland is highly water-stressed.
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Denne historien er fra February 26, 2021-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
