The world's growing population and changing consumption patterns will continue to drive demand for food. Irrigated agriculture now claims the dominant share of freshwater abstractions. In the latter half of last century, significant public and private investment in agriculture has resulted in much needed productivity gains, and has closed food security gaps, particularly in areas otherwise vulnerable to climatic variability. Without this massive investment in agriculture, the world would have experienced devastating starvation. Providing enough water to produce food is an enormous challenge, especially in those regions and countries where water is scarce. Therefore a substantial increase in water productivity is needed. This will require both investment in the modernization of existing irrigation systems and the prudent development of new water resources. Irrigated agriculture will need to be carefully examined to discern where society can benefit most effectively from it's application. Access to natural resources will have to be negotiated with other users in a transparent fashion in order to effect optimal use of limited water resources to deal with human welfare, food security and poverty reduction. Irrigation is under pressure to perform as a service to agriculture, not as an end in itself. This will involve a shift in approach from a supply-driven to a demand-responsive activity in which a much clearer rationale for the participation of users and the mobilisation of investment is established.
