In-depth study sheds light on irrigated farming areas, water use

Abstract

Scientists forecast that farmers will need to double their current water use or produce more with the water available to meet rising food demands by 2050. Given that water has already been fully or over-allocated in many of our catchments, it will likely not be sustainable to expand the area under irrigated agriculture. Key questions remain, however: Do we know how much water is needed for irrigation agriculture in South Africa? Can we tell which crops are more water efficient in terms of production? And, how can we ensure that we use our water resources sustainably considering future uncertainties? A four-year-long research project, jointly funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), focused on these and other related questions. The research team, under the leadership of Prof Adriaan van Niekerk of Stellenbosch University (SU), conducted a study on consumptive water use and irrigation. Prof Van Niekerk is the director of the Centre for Geographical Analysis in SU’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

Authors

Categories