Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management
Abstract
The Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture critically evaluates the benefits, costs, and impacts of the past 50 years of water development, the water management challenges communities are facing today, and solutions people have developed. The results will enable better investment and management decisions in water and agriculture in the near future and over the next 50 years. The assessment is produced by a broad partnership of practitioners, researchers and policy makers.
The scope of this assessment is water management in agriculture, including fisheries and livestock, and the full spectrum of crop production from soil tillage through supplemental irrigation and water harvesting to full irrigation in a sustainable environment context. The assessment was originally framed by 10 questions, later expanded as interest grew, and includes the overarching question: how can water in agriculture be developed and managed to help end poverty and hunger, ensure environmentally sustainable practices, and find the right balance between food and environmental security? A 48-pp. summary in English is attached to this output record: for summaries in Arabic, Russian, Spanish and French, or to download individual chapters or order the entire book, see this link.
Citation
Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. (2007) London: Earthscan, and Colombo: International Water Management Institute.
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