Quite often, water used to grow food, especially under irrigated agriculture, is seen/depicted to be the villain (takes up too much proportion of national water demand, pollutes land and water resources, causes health concerns etc).
But where good records exist, this negative perception can be proved otherwise. Even without good records, estimates show that for instance, in Africa (where agriculture is said to take up 70% of all mobilzed water), the problem is that so little water is mobilized! The reality is that even if all irrigable land in Africa were irrigated, it would use up only 12% of available water resources. It is possible that other sectors are actually denying agriculture the water it rightfully should get. There are many donors/funders who will Not fund a dam if it will be used for irrigation - pity!
Hence, we (of the Water-for-food nexus) need to change lots of perceptions, using solid data/evidence, especially in the light of new smart technologies that make irrigation/water-for-food so environmentally green, yet economically viable.
The demand for this happens to be where food insecurity is greatest, i.e. in poor countries which happen to suffer agricultural droughts, yet water infrastructure is very poor, if avaialble at all.
The world eradicated smallpox. The world can make it happen that every seed planted shall mature and yield to its full potential. That is the meaning of Water-for-Food, according to me.
Bancy
Bancy Mati