Knowledge Products > Details
Real Water Savings in Agriculture
-and-drip-irrigation-(right)-fields-in-the-shiraz-region.-introducing-drip-irrigation-increases-consumption.-it-also-reduces-return-flows-substantially-but-those-were-to-a-large-extent-recoverable-.png?sfvrsn=588f4bcd_1 "Real Water Savings in Agriculture")
Follow the Water” graphs for surface irrigation (left) and drip irrigation (right) fields in the Shiraz region. Introducing drip irrigation increases consumption. It also reduces return flows substantially, but those were to a large extent recoverable
©FAO & FutureWater. 2019. Real Water Saving (Rewas_v. 8). Bangkok. FAO
Irrigated agriculture consumes the largest share of water for human use by far, signifying that it is within the irrigation sector that solutions to address and manage water scarcity must be found. In particular, the role that ‘increasing water use efficiency’ can play in tackling the water crisis is dominated by misunderstandings related to hydrology, economics, and human behavior.
This policy brief is based on extensive work carried out by FAO and FutureWater under the Asia Pacific Water Scarcity Programme (WSP). It clearly explains the complexities associated with efforts to increase water use efficiency and the importance of utilizing water accounting and consistent use of terminology in developing water management interventions. A practical new tool is introduced that provides clear and practical guidelines on how to implement ‘real’ water savings in agriculture by selecting suitable interventions that enhance crop water productivity.
To download the document, click here