The Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, and the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food
From Assessment to Research and Actions Developing and managing water resources to help end poverty and hunger, feed an additional 2 billion people, while reversing trends of ecosystem degradation presents the most significant water challenge of our time. Despite great gains in food production, the use of water for food security and poverty reduction remains unfinished business for millions of rural poor. The dilemma posed by this challenge is that more people will require more water for agriculture, yet the way in which people use water in agriculture is the most important driver of ecosystem degradation. Taking up this challenge will lead us toward attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on poverty, hunger and environment. Sharply diverging views exist on the water-food-ecosystem choices. Some place emphasis on developing more water through large infrastructure to relieve scarcity, to fuel economic growth, and as a way to relieve pressure on the environment. At the other end of the spectrum is a call for a halt to agricultural and hydraulic infrastructure expansion, and promotion of practices that restore
ecosystems to their original balance. The divergence of positions is exacerbated by differences in language and approach used to describe the situation. There is growing interest for common ground. The Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (the CA) was formed to bring these diverse views together. Over the past five years, the CA has critically evaluated the benefits, costs and impacts of 50 years of water development, the water management challenges communities are facing today, and solutions people have developed. The results of these findings will be presented and discussed during the 2006 World Water Week in Stockholm. The overarching picture of the water-food-livelihoods-environment nexus offered by the CA enables the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) to put results into action by investing in research that leads to better management and investment decisions in water and agriculture and aims to address both human and environmental water needs.
Special Session
Photo: Mats Lannerstad
Poster Sessions General Information
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