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| Water reform is 'needed in Asia' | Water reform is 'needed in Asia' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Asia must reform its water use to feed 1.5 billion extra people by 2050, says a new report. | Asia must reform its water use to feed 1.5 billion extra people by 2050, says a new report. |
| The authors warn that without big changes to irrigation many nations will have to import food. | The authors warn that without big changes to irrigation many nations will have to import food. |
| The report says that 94% of suitable land in South Asia is already being used for growing food. | The report says that 94% of suitable land in South Asia is already being used for growing food. |
| According to their computer model the continent could obtain three quarters of the additional food it needs with better irrigation systems. | According to their computer model the continent could obtain three quarters of the additional food it needs with better irrigation systems. |
| The report will be presented on Tuesday to the World Water Week conference in Stockholm. | The report will be presented on Tuesday to the World Water Week conference in Stockholm. |
| The study was carried out by the International Water Management Institute and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). | The study was carried out by the International Water Management Institute and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). |
| The researchers warn that some developing nations will have to import more than a quarter of the rice, what and maize they will need by 2050 and that this prospect will be politically risky. | The researchers warn that some developing nations will have to import more than a quarter of the rice, what and maize they will need by 2050 and that this prospect will be politically risky. |
| They outline three options for meeting the food needs of Asia's population. | They outline three options for meeting the food needs of Asia's population. |
| The first is to import large quantities of cereals from other regions, the second to improve and expand "rain-fed" agriculture and the third is to focus on irrigated farmlands. | The first is to import large quantities of cereals from other regions, the second to improve and expand "rain-fed" agriculture and the third is to focus on irrigated farmlands. |
| Politically risky | Politically risky |
| The report warns that the first option is too politically risky and the second is impossible as suitable land is already in use in many areas. | The report warns that the first option is too politically risky and the second is impossible as suitable land is already in use in many areas. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
| Lead author Aditi Mukherji of the International Water Management Institute said: "Today, the option of expanding irrigated land area in Asia to feed a growing population is becoming increasingly problematic due to land or water constraints." | Lead author Aditi Mukherji of the International Water Management Institute said: "Today, the option of expanding irrigated land area in Asia to feed a growing population is becoming increasingly problematic due to land or water constraints." |
| The scenarios presented in the report do not factor in climate change which is likely to make rainfall more erratic. | The scenarios presented in the report do not factor in climate change which is likely to make rainfall more erratic. |
| The report recommends modernising the region's large scale irrigation systems which rely on surface water but have fallen into disrepair through lack of investment. | The report recommends modernising the region's large scale irrigation systems which rely on surface water but have fallen into disrepair through lack of investment. |
| Another suggestion is for governments to help individual farmers use cheap pumps to extract ground water for irrigation. | Another suggestion is for governments to help individual farmers use cheap pumps to extract ground water for irrigation. |