Water scarcity affects one in three people on every continent of the
globe. The situation is getting worse as needs for water rise along with
population growth, urbanization and increases in household and
industrial uses. The International Fund for Agricultural Development –
IFAD, will join experts from the scientific, business, policy and civic
communities in Stockholm from 26-31 August to address how to reverse
this impinging problem while ensuring the world’s food security.
Organized by the Stockholm International Institute, the annual World
Water Week will focus on water and food security this year. The theme
comes at a time when the global food security situation is unstable.
Fluctuating energy prices, poor harvests, and rising demand from a
growing population, have all increased food prices. In the past few
months, severe droughts have been reported from the United States to the
Sahel region in Africa. These droughts further exacerbate the problem
as they reduce global food supply due to reductions in irrigated
agricultural production, which represents 40% of the world’s food
demand.
Nowhere is the link between food and water security more evident than in
the Near East and North Africa region, which is home to 5% of the
world’s population, but only 1% of the global available freshwater
resources. Limited water resources restrict the potential for domestic
food production in the region, where irrigated agriculture represents
85% of total freshwater withdrawal.
"Along with other stressors including demographic and land use
changes, climate change will exacerbate the already precarious high
water deficit in the Arab region, and will negatively impact its rainfed
agricultural productivity," said Khalida Bouzar, Director of the Near East, North Africa and Europe Division at IFAD. "Water
scarcity will become the main constraint to socio-economic development
in the region, which is why it is crucial to work on integrated
adaptation strategies that incorporate water issues in all sectors
including agriculture, industry, urban development, trade, and tourism.
Strategies should also contribute to reducing exposure to market
volatility through investments in critical infrastructure such as grain
storages and water harvesting."
As the region’s population is estimated to double over the next 40
years, per capita water availability is expected to fall by more than
50%. In order to meet future water demands, IFAD is exploring
non-conventional water resources in the region such as wastewater reuse,
recycling of agricultural drainage water and desalination. For example,
in Jordan, Syria and Tunisia, incorporating alternative water resources
such as brackish water and treated wastewater is being undertaken in
forage production. This is being coupled with environmental impact
assessments on farms and guidelines for the safe use of marginal water.
During World Water Week, IFAD will be organizing six events to explore
ways to scale up simple technologies such as these, which small farmers
worldwide can use to enhance food security. In addition, the events will
look at how best to support small farmers to contribute to climate
change adaptation by fostering models of efficient water use, and
empower neglected or disempowered groups such as marginal farmers and
women.