places in Asia and Africa, with significant risks to food security.
Water storage is critical to help these people.
Scientists have examined the problems in some of the poor regions of the
world in Asia and Africa and are concerned about how water limitations
caused by erratic weather can negatively impact farmers.
"Millions of farmers in communities dependent on rainfed agriculture are
at risk from decreasing and erratic availability of water," said Colin
Chartres, director general of the Sri Lanka-based International Water
Management Institute (IWMI). World Water Week in Stockholm is the
occasion for this announcement of findings.
Chartres emphasized, "Climate change will hit these people hard, so we have to invest heavily and quickly in adaptation."
What is recommended is an integrated approach with both large and small storage mechanisms, from wetlands, in soil and in tanks.
"Just as modern
consumers diversify their financial holdings to reduce risk,
smallholder farmers need a wide array of 'water accounts' to provide a
buffer against climate change impacts," said Matthew McCartney, the
report's lead author and a hydrologist at IWMI, which is supported by
the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
"That way, if one water source goes dry, they'll have others to fall
back on."
consumers diversify their financial holdings to reduce risk,
smallholder farmers need a wide array of 'water accounts' to provide a
buffer against climate change impacts," said Matthew McCartney, the
report's lead author and a hydrologist at IWMI, which is supported by
the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
"That way, if one water source goes dry, they'll have others to fall
back on."
"For millions
of people dependent on rainfed agriculture, reliable access to water can
make all the difference between chronic hunger and steady progress
toward food security," McCartney continued. "Even small amounts of
stored water, by enabling crops and livestock to survive dry periods,
can produce large gains in agricultural productivity and in the
well-being of rural people."
of people dependent on rainfed agriculture, reliable access to water can
make all the difference between chronic hunger and steady progress
toward food security," McCartney continued. "Even small amounts of
stored water, by enabling crops and livestock to survive dry periods,
can produce large gains in agricultural productivity and in the
well-being of rural people."
There are 499 million people at risk and in need of improved water management, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Unless we can
reduce crippling uncertainty in rainfed agriculture through better water
storage, many farmers in developing countries will face a losing battle
with a more hostile and unpredictable climate."
reduce crippling uncertainty in rainfed agriculture through better water
storage, many farmers in developing countries will face a losing battle
with a more hostile and unpredictable climate."
Dams have been
built, new ways of harnessing water through flood control and targeting
agricultural development with certain plantings and infrastructure
development are ways of addressing the problem, ways that are already
underway. 50,00 large dams have been built around the world in the past
60 years, for example.
built, new ways of harnessing water through flood control and targeting
agricultural development with certain plantings and infrastructure
development are ways of addressing the problem, ways that are already
underway. 50,00 large dams have been built around the world in the past
60 years, for example.
"None of these
options is a panacea," said McCartney. "They all have pros and cons,
which depend on their inherent characteristics, on the way they are
planned and managed, and on the conditions at specific sites."
options is a panacea," said McCartney. "They all have pros and cons,
which depend on their inherent characteristics, on the way they are
planned and managed, and on the conditions at specific sites."
In addition to hazards that develop with water storage, climate change will further impact new developments.
"The more we
study climate change, the more we realize that water is the principal
medium by which its impacts will be manifested in agriculture," said
Chartres. "We may not know exactly what those impacts will be, but we
can be sure they will include greater rainfall variability. Water
storage in all its forms offers a better way to manage risks during
these times of increasingly uncertain weather.
study climate change, the more we realize that water is the principal
medium by which its impacts will be manifested in agriculture," said
Chartres. "We may not know exactly what those impacts will be, but we
can be sure they will include greater rainfall variability. Water
storage in all its forms offers a better way to manage risks during
these times of increasingly uncertain weather.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Say something constructive. Negative remarks and name-calling are not allowed.