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Water crisis to hit Asian food | Water crisis to hit Asian food |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Scientists have warned Asian countries that they face chronic food shortages and likely social unrest if they do not improve water management. | Scientists have warned Asian countries that they face chronic food shortages and likely social unrest if they do not improve water management. |
The water experts are meeting at a UN-sponsored conference in Sweden. | The water experts are meeting at a UN-sponsored conference in Sweden. |
They say countries in south and east Asia must spend billions of dollars to improve antiquated crop irrigation to cope with rapid population increases. | They say countries in south and east Asia must spend billions of dollars to improve antiquated crop irrigation to cope with rapid population increases. |
That estimate does not yet take into account the possible impact of global warming on water supplies, they said. | That estimate does not yet take into account the possible impact of global warming on water supplies, they said. |
Asia's population is forecast to increase by 1.5bn people over the next 40 years. | |
Going hungry | Going hungry |
The findings are published in a new joint report by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). | The findings are published in a new joint report by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). |
They suggest that Asian countries will need to import more than a quarter of their rice and other staples to feed their populations. | They suggest that Asian countries will need to import more than a quarter of their rice and other staples to feed their populations. |
"Asia's food and feed demand is expected to double by 2050," said IWMI director general Colin Chartres. | "Asia's food and feed demand is expected to double by 2050," said IWMI director general Colin Chartres. |
"Relying on trade to meet a large part of this demand will impose a huge and politically untenable burden on the economies of many developing countries. | "Relying on trade to meet a large part of this demand will impose a huge and politically untenable burden on the economies of many developing countries. |
"The best bet for Asia lies in revitalising its vast irrigation systems, which account for 70% of the world's total irrigated land," he said. | "The best bet for Asia lies in revitalising its vast irrigation systems, which account for 70% of the world's total irrigated land," he said. |
Without water productivity gains, South Asia would need 57% more water for irrigated agriculture and East Asia 70% more. Report by UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the International Water Management Institute | Without water productivity gains, South Asia would need 57% more water for irrigated agriculture and East Asia 70% more. Report by UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the International Water Management Institute |
With new agricultural land in short supply, the solution, he said, is to intensify irrigation methods, modernising old systems built in the 1970s and 1980s. | With new agricultural land in short supply, the solution, he said, is to intensify irrigation methods, modernising old systems built in the 1970s and 1980s. |
But that, he says will require billions of dollars of investment. | But that, he says will require billions of dollars of investment. |
'Scary scenarios' | 'Scary scenarios' |
At the same time as needing to import more food, the prices of those cereals are likely to continue to rise due to increasingly volatile international markets. | At the same time as needing to import more food, the prices of those cereals are likely to continue to rise due to increasingly volatile international markets. |
The report says millions of farmers have taken the responsibility for irrigation into their own hands, mainly using out-of-date and inefficient pump technology. | The report says millions of farmers have taken the responsibility for irrigation into their own hands, mainly using out-of-date and inefficient pump technology. |
This means they can extract as much water as they like from their land, draining a precious natural resource. | This means they can extract as much water as they like from their land, draining a precious natural resource. |
"Governments' inability to regulate this practice is giving rise to scary scenarios of groundwater over-exploitation, which could lead to regional food crises and widespread social unrest," said the IWMI's Tushaar Shah, a co-author of the report. | "Governments' inability to regulate this practice is giving rise to scary scenarios of groundwater over-exploitation, which could lead to regional food crises and widespread social unrest," said the IWMI's Tushaar Shah, a co-author of the report. |
Asian governments must join with the private sector to invest in modern, and more efficient methods of using water, the study concluded. | Asian governments must join with the private sector to invest in modern, and more efficient methods of using water, the study concluded. |
"Without water productivity gains, south Asia would need 57% more water for irrigated agriculture and east Asia 70% more," the study found. | "Without water productivity gains, south Asia would need 57% more water for irrigated agriculture and east Asia 70% more," the study found. |
"Given the scarcity of land and water, and growing water needs for cities, such a scenario is untenable," it said. | "Given the scarcity of land and water, and growing water needs for cities, such a scenario is untenable," it said. |
The scenarios forecast do not factor in the impact of global warming, which will likely make rainfall more erratic and less plentiful in some agricultural regions over the coming decades. | The scenarios forecast do not factor in the impact of global warming, which will likely make rainfall more erratic and less plentiful in some agricultural regions over the coming decades. |
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