- Barza Wire - https://wire.farmradio.fm -

State of Food and Agriculture 2020

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has released its yearly report on the State of Food and Agriculture, and this year the focus in on overcoming water challenges in agriculture. As the report states in its opening: “We all need water to drink and water to grow food. Water-related ecosystems also sustain livelihoods, food security, and nutrition. However, freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce.”

Population growth and socio-economic development both contribute to rising demand for water and are thus driving water scarcity. Climate changes, including uncertain rainfall and water availability, also exacerbate water scarcity. The annual amount of water per person has dropped by more than 20% in the past two decades. 

Solutions include achieving efficient, equitable, and sustainable water use in agriculture. Awareness is also key, as it will be important to track how much freshwater is available and how much is being used by whom. Rainwater can also be better used in rain-fed areas. Water-harvesting and water conservation techniques can help. Sustainable irrigation should improve water productivity, growing more with less water. 

The full report offers other solutions. 

Find the brief report here: http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb1441en [1]

Read the digital report here: http://www.fao.org/3/cb1447en/online/cb1447en.html [2]