Journal Article•
Managing water in rainfed agriculture
TL;DR: In this article, the authors suggest that about 25% of the water needed to meet the 2015 hunger reduction target will have to come from water mvestments m ramfed agri-culture.
Abstract: Faczng the food and poverty crzses zn developzng countnes wzll requzre a new emphaszs on smallscale
water management zn raznJed agrzculture znvolvzng the redzrectzon of water poltey and
large new mvestments Ramfed systems dommate world food production, but water mvestments
m ramfed agrIculture have been neglected over the past 50 years Upgradmg ramfed
agrIculture promises large SOCIal, economiC, and enVIronmental paybacks, particularly m
poverty reduction and economic development Ramfed farmmg covers most of the world's
cropland (80%) and produces most of the world's cereal grams (more than 60%), generatmg
lIvelIhoods m rural areas and producmg food for cltles EStImates suggest that about
25% of the mcreased water reqUIrement needed to attam the 2015 hunger reduction target
of the MillennIUm Development Goal can be contrIbuted from IrrIgation The remammg
75% will have to come from water mvestments m ramfed agnculture
Citations
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01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the current problems of food demand and water scarcity and outline some possible solutions to these issues and recommend a range of actions to support farmers, especially small farmers, to curb losses of water and food and to facilitate that their produce meets the growing demands for food through: improved seeds, harvesting technologies and storage and innovative ways to capture and beneficially use the rain water to lessen stresses on rivers and groundwater improve food processing and supply.
Abstract: Agriculture is the largest human use of water. Clearly, agricultural practices need to be targeted to reduce wastage of water. This has been the centre of attention for water saving practices for some years. But there are additional ways to save water. Food consumers and businesses have a key role. This paper discusses the current problems of food demand and water scarcity and outlines some possible solutions to these issues. The amount of food produced on farmers fields is much more than is necessary for a healthy, productive and active life for the global population. Losses and wastage may be in the order of 50 percent between field and fork. Inefficient harvesting, transport, storage and packaging make a considerable dent in the potential availability of food. The situation now is characterised by rapidly increasing prices on food with dramatic repercussions for the poor, rates of inflation and, generally, for the stability of society. The authors recommend a range of actions. These include: support to farmers - actions are needed to support farmers, especially small farmers, to curb losses of water and food and to facilitate that their produce meets the growing demands for food through: improved seeds, harvesting technologies and storage and innovative ways to capture and beneficially use the rain water to lessen stresses on rivers and groundwater improve food processing and supply - the business community should take action to minimize water wastage through reducing food wastage in their processing and transport by: benchmarking standards to indicate water use; taking action to minimize wastage in their processing and transport systems; and raising publicity about their water use sensitise consumers - raise awareness amongst consumers about the water implications of their diets, overeating and food wastage through incentives, practical guidance and well designed campaigns disseminate basic data and information there is a lack factual information about different types, size and implications of losses and wastage of food. An important step is therefore to improve knowledge.
395 citations
Cites background from "Managing water in rainfed agricultu..."
...In combination with fertilisers, small amounts of additional water can lead to high yields and water productivity, particularly where yields are low (Rockström et al., 2007)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined four sets of scenarios that vary in their focus on investments in rainfed agriculture and irrigation, and the role of international trade in adjusting for national disparities in water endowments.
369 citations
Cites background from "Managing water in rainfed agricultu..."
...Rockström et al. (2007) argue that upgrading rainfed areas through investments in soil and water conservation, water harvesting techniques and supplemental irrigation can double or even quadruple productivity in drought-prone tropical regions....
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TL;DR: Risk assessment is essential in post-disasters situations and the rapid implementation of control measures through re-establishment and improvement of primary healthcare delivery should be given high priority, especially in the absence of pre-disaster surveillance data.
Abstract: Natural disasters may lead to infectious disease outbreaks when they result in substantial population displacement and exacerbate synergic risk factors (change in the environment, in human conditions and in the vulnerability to existing pathogens) for disease transmission. We reviewed risk factors and potential infectious diseases resulting from prolonged secondary effects of major natural disasters that occurred from 2000 to 2011. Natural disasters including floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, tropical cyclones (e.g., hurricanes and typhoons) and tornadoes have been secondarily described with the following infectious diseases including diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, malaria, leptospirosis, measles, dengue fever, viral hepatitis, typhoid fever, meningitis, as well as tetanus and cutaneous mucormycosis. Risk assessment is essential in post-disaster situations and the rapid implementation of control measures through re-establishment and improvement of primary healthcare delivery should be give...
366 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present evidence of increased yields and improved water productivity using conservation farming in semi-arid and dry sub-humid locations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
Abstract: Improved agricultural productivity using conservation farming (CF) systems based on non-inversion tillage methods, have predominantly originated from farming systems in sub-humid to humid regions where water is not a key limiting factor for crop growth. This paper presents evidence of increased yields and improved water productivity using conservation farming in semi-arid and dry sub-humid locations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. Results are based on on-farm farmer and research managed experiments during the period 1999–2003. Grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and tef (Eragrostis Tef (Zucc)) from conventional (inversion) tillage are compared with CF with and without fertilizer. Rain water productivity (WPrain) is assessed for the locations, treatments and seasons. Results indicate significantly higher yields (p
323 citations
Cites background from "Managing water in rainfed agricultu..."
...…conservation, long-term yield levels remain low in the region, generally oscillating between 0.5 and 1 t ha 1 in the selected experimental areas (Rockström et al., 2007), and the aim was to explore whether CF has the potential of lifting crop systems to a new higher long-term productivity…...
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...5 and 1 t ha 1 in the selected experimental areas (Rockström et al., 2007), and the aim was to explore whether CF has the potential of lifting crop systems to a new higher long-term productivity level....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the household and institutional factors that influence conservation agriculture adoption patterns among the beneficiaries of these relief initiatives, and found that institutional support and agro-ecological location have strong statistical influence on the adoption intensity of different conservation agriculture components.
293 citations
Cites result from "Managing water in rainfed agricultu..."
...This is despite years of research and development investment in SSA (Twomlow et al., 2006; Lal, 2007; Rockstrom et al., 2007) and is in direct contrast to the mounting evidence of impact from South America and parts of Asia (Derpsch, 2005; Hobbs et al., 2007)....
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...This improves viability and provides an incentive for CF adoption by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and potentially elsewhere in SSA....
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...Over the past decade, there has been a growing advocacy that CA is important in establishing household food security for poorer farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Asia, an approach that can help attain the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal on food security (Hobbs, 2007; Hobbs et al., 2007)....
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...This is despite years of research and development investment in SSA (Twomlow et al., 2006; Lal, 2007; Rockstrom et al., 2007) and is in direct contrast to the mounting evidence of impact from South America and parts of Asia (Derpsch, 2005; Hobbs et al....
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...Despite this growing interest in CA, certain sources such as Gowing and Palmer (2008) argue that the technology transfer effort in SSA is still limited to on-farm demonstration trials and that farmers are not adopting CA practices....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: In poucas frases apresenta-se o resumo do que foi pesquisado, os objetivos pretendidos, a metodologia utilizada and os resultados alcançados as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: resumo): Em poucas frases apresenta-se o resumo do que foi pesquisado, os objetivos pretendidos, a metodologia utilizada e os resultados alcançados. Para publicação em pe148 54. O currículo, agradecimentos e data de entrega dos originais devem aparecer em rodapé na página de abertura ou como nota editorial no final do artigo. riódicos o abstract deve ser apresentado também em idioma estrangeiro de grande divulgação, geralmente em inglês.
4,751 citations
Book•
27 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the authors zoom in on the Global Hotspots of Rainfed Agriculture in Water Constrained Environments, focusing on Green and Blue Water Trade-offs, and highlight the opportunities for improving Crop-water Productivity through Genetic Enhancement of Dryland Crops.
Abstract: 1. Rainfed Agriculture - Past Trends and Future Prospects 2. Zooming in on the Global Hotspots of Rainfed Agriculture in Water Constrained Environments 3. Water Resource Implications of Upgrading Rainfed Agriculture - Focus on Green and Blue Water Trade-offs 4. Tectonics-climate Linked Natural Soil Degradation and its Impact in Rainfed Agriculture: Indian Experience 5. Determinants of Crop Growth and Yield in a Changing Climate 6. Yield Gap Analysis: Modeling of Achievable Yields at Farm Level 7. Can Rainfed Agriculture Feed the World? - An Assessment of Potentials and Risk 8. Opportunities for Improving Crop-water Productivity Through Genetic Enhancement of Dryland Crops 9. Water Harvesting for Improved Rainfed Agriculture in the Dry Environments 10. Supplemental Irrigation for Improved Rainfed Agriculture: In WANA Region 11. Opportunities for Water Harvesting and Supplemental Irrigation for Improving Rainfed Agriculture in Semi-arid Areas 12. Integrated Farm Management Practices and Up Scaling the Impact for Increased Productivity of Rainfed Systems 13. Challenges of Adoption and Adaptation of Land and Water Management Options in Smallholder Agriculture: Synthesis of Lessons and Experiences 14. Scaling-out Community Watershed Management for Multiple Benefits in Rainfed Areas.
154 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the potential of small-scale water system innovations and adaptive co-management for food and environmental security in semi-arid environments has been explored in Tanzania, South Africa, and Africa South of Sahara.
Abstract: System Innovations in Integrated Watershed Management (SSI): Strategies of water for food and environmental security in drought-prone tropical and subtropical agro-ecosystems. watershed management / river basins / farming systems / rain-fed farming / water balance / supplemental irrigation / water harvesting / agro-ecosystems / farming systems / experiments / crop production / catchment areas / hydrology / models / research projects / Tanzania / South Africa / Africa South of Sahara. Please direct inquiries and comments to: iwmi@cgiar.org IWMI receives its principal funding from 58 governments, private foundations, and international and regional organizations known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Project 3B: Building socio-ecological resilience in semi-arid environments-the potential of small-scale water system innovations and adaptive co-management ..
38 citations
Posted Content•
29 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, a range of studies and concepts regarding options for improving water productivity through improved land management that mitigates soil degradation, and aims to highlight its importance as part of a comprehensive strategy to address global water scarcity.
Abstract: Management of land, soil and water are intimately related and complementary to each other. Land degradation, and in particular soil quality degradation, is a major factor limiting agricultural water productivity and is often neglected in water management circles. When degradation of agricultural soil resources results in productivity declines that are more limiting than water, then water productivity declines. The best existing evaluation of the extent of soil degradation worldwide is still the Global Assessment of Land Degradation (GLASOD) by Oldeman (1991). Based on this assessment we can infer that on 50% of arable land worldwide, water productivity is below what could have been expected before degradation occurred (Wood et al., 2000; see also Eswaran et al. (2001) for more detailed treatment of yield impacts from land degradation). Soil degradation limits water productivity in cases where absolute quantities of water are not the most limiting factor. This situation is widespread, considering that nutrients can be more limiting than water even in very dry areas, such as the Sahel (Penning de Vries and Djiteye, 1982; Breman, 1998). Addressing these constraints is critical if improvements in water productivity are to be achieved. Increasing awareness of a ‘global water crisis’ recognizes that the scarcity of clean water does affect food production and conservation of ecosystems. It is predicted that by 2025, most developing countries will face either physical or economic water scarcity, while at the same time global demand for food will increase (Molden, 2007). Because irrigated and rainfed agriculture is by far the largest human consumptive use of fresh water, improving the productivity of water used in agriculture can assist in increasing food production while maintaining water-related ecosystem services. Tackling human-induced degradation of agricultural lands is therefore central to addressing the ‘water crisis’. This chapter reviews a range of studies and concepts regarding options for improving water productivity through improved land management that mitigates soil degradation, and aims to highlight its importance as part of a comprehensive strategy to address global water scarcity. The focus is primarily on crop water productivity at the field scale, but the importance of taking a landscape-scale perspective when evaluating impacts of changes in water use is also discussed.
25 citations