The New Nation - Internet Edition

Food supply is dominated by the use of water. Proper use of water can supply sufficient food required by a nation. Agricultural activities are highly characterised by the supply of water. Irrigation, which consumes far more water than any other use, has generated enormous benefits.. By helping raise farmers' yields and stabilize food production and prices, irrigation has been key to achieving food security in many parts of the world. Inappropriate water and agricultural policies and poor irrigation management have also lowered groundwater tables, damaged soils, and reduced water quality. Moreover, growing population with rising incomes will further increase the demand for irrigation water to meet food needs. Although the domestic and industrial sectors use far less water than agriculture, water consumption in these sectors is growing rapidly.

Even as demand for water by all users grows, groundwater is being depleted, other water ecosystems are becoming polluted and degraded, and developing new sources of water is getting more costly.

The strategies for national governments, international donors, and water users for the ensuring of food by the proper use of water are-

o increasing the supply of water for farmers, households, and industries by investing in infrastructure;

o conserving water and make existing systems more efficient by reforming water management and policy and investing in improved technology and infrastructure in these systems; and

o increasing crop productivity per unit of water and land by improving water management and directing research and policy efforts toward rainfed agriculture.

Manir Hossain

Santosh, Tangail.