Irrigation water measurement evaluated

Abstract

The Water Wheel September-October 2005 24 WATER AND AGRICULTURE The increased pressure on South Africa’s water resources has made water demand management everybody’s business. With more than half of South Africa’s water used by irrigated agriculture, there is huge pressure on farmers to increase the efficiency of their systems. According to the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF), while the social and economic value of agriculture, especially in rural areas, is recognised, the volume of the country’s water resources dedicated to this activity cannot be ignored. Agriculture has a demand of more than 60% of total water use and, says DWAF , efficient use of water by the sector has the potential to play a significant role towards making more water available for use not only within the agricultural sector itself but also for other sectors. Not all of the water abstracted for use through conventional irrigation methods reaches the root systems of plants. It is estimated that water losses through current irrigation practices range between 30% and 40%.

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