Irrigation and food security in the 21st century.pdfVIP

Irrigation and Drainage Systems 11: 83–101, 1997. c 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. Dedicated to the memory of Ian Carruthers, great friend and colleague Irrigation and food security in the 21st century y 1 2 IAN CARRUTHERS , MARK W. ROSEGRANT DAVID SECKLER 1International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, D.C.; 2International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka ( Corresponding author) Accepted 2 December 1996 Abstract. Global food projections indicate that food prices in the next three decades will likely be stable or decline, but progress in reducing malnutrition in developing countries will be slow. Small shortfalls in crop productivity growth would lead to rising food prices and worsening malnutrition. Increased food production from irrigation is essential, and will require expansion of irrigated area and water supplies, and improved efficiency of use of existing water supplies. Neither of these growth factors will prove easy, and both will require complex institutional and policy reforms. Failure to meet food production needs through efficient expansion and intensification of irrigated agriculture would increase pressure on land resources and hasten the process of environmental degradation. Irrigation and water development strategies have been hampered by a lack of understanding of the links between water scarcity, food production, food security, and environmental sustainability. Research to improve this understanding would have high payoffs. Key words: Irrigation, food security, environment, water resources, water use efficiency, water policy Introduction The first and most important task would be to extend irrigation in farming areas that would have the most significant impact on productive employment : : : this publi