Coping with Increased Water Scarcity in Dry Areas: Increased Water Productivity
2001
Oweis, T.Y. (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo (Syria))
The increasing scarcity of water in the dry areas is now a well-recognized problem. High rate of population growth and development, require continuous diversion of agricultural water to higher priority sectors. The need to produce more food with less water poses enormous challenges to transfer existing supplies, encourage more efficient use and promote natural resources conservation. On-farm water-use efficient techniques if coupled with improved irrigation management options, better crop selection and appropriate cultural practices, genetic make-up, and timely socio-economic interventions would help achieving this objective. In water-scarce areas, water is more limiting to production than land hence maximizing water productivity, should have higher priority over maximizing yield in the strategies of water management. In a fast changing world towards free trade and open markets, future trends in water and land use in agriculture are difficult to predict. However under such conditions, planning water- and land-use should be based on the comparative advantages of the dry areas, but within the framework of maximizing the return from the limited available water resources. If agricultural production and livelihoods in the dry areas are to he sustained, even at current levels, greater priority must be given to improving water productivity and enhancing the efficiency of water procurement.
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