In different parts of the world, the importance of water conservation and agriculture is being emphasized to ensure food security and sustainable development. Experts, farmers, and social reformers are coming together to address the challenges faced in regions like Lower Sindh in Pakistan and the Sokoto River Basin in Nigeria.
In Lower Sindh, a consultation seminar titled 'Food-Water Nexus: Connecting the Dots' brought attention to the need for water conservation. The lack of significant agricultural production development over the past three decades is a cause for concern. To tackle this, the promotion of urban and vertical agriculture, as well as the utilization of drip irrigation, is being advocated. The conversion of green lands into urban areas, high water consumption for wheat and paddy production, farmers' hesitation to adopt drip irrigation systems, and the contamination of the Indus River due to polluted drainage water are all issues that need to be addressed. It is important to recognize that rural areas are the primary producers of food items consumed in urban areas.
In a recent opinion piece by Lt-Gen Muzammil Hussain (retd) published in Business Recorder, the potential of the water sector in Pakistan to address economic and food security challenges is discussed. The writer highlights the hindrances faced in the development of mega storages and hydropower projects along the Indus cascade, including political interference and institutional inefficiencies. The completion of projects such as the Sindh Barrage is crucial for improving water management strategies and contributing to sustainable development. The financial aspect of these projects requires robust financial models, and the writer calls for a recalibration and reset of development mechanisms, including capacity-building and a holistic approach involving the government, WAPDA, and other stakeholders. The timely commissioning of these projects is essential to prevent significant damage to the national economy and ensure food security and sustainable development [f4e21c91][d2f045ec][08fa0c71][03bb97b4].
Similarly, in the Sokoto River Basin in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, has highlighted the need for partial commercialization of the River Basins to increase food production and reduce hunger, poverty, and unemployment. The commercialization is not a complete sale of the Basins but an invitation for capable investors to contribute to their management. This approach aims to ensure project sustainability and inclusive involvement of stakeholders to optimize the government's investment. During a visit to the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA) headquarters, the Minister inspected various infrastructure projects, including dams, water treatment plants, and integrated farms.
Abu Dhabi has also taken a significant step towards boosting food and water security by launching the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (Agwa) Cluster. Approved by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the cluster aims to strengthen food and water security, create new jobs, and attract investments. By 2045, Agwa is expected to contribute Dh90 billion to the Abu Dhabi economy, create over 60,000 new jobs, and attract Dh128 billion in investments. The cluster will support local suppliers and exporters, cultivate sustainable production, and address the increasing demand for food and water. Abu Dhabi is home to 24,000 farms, and the launch of Agwa aims to embrace high-tech solutions to water and food security challenges [a7d75a71].
India's new ministers have a to-do list that aligns with the global focus on agriculture, water, and industry. An opinion piece by Shankkar Aiyar in The New Indian Express highlights key areas that India's new ministers should prioritize. In the agriculture sector, the article emphasizes the need for reforms such as innovation, access to credit, storage, and markets through farmer-producer organizations and cooperatives. It also highlights the importance of food processing to address high food price inflation and reduce post-harvest losses. In the water sector, the article mentions the challenges related to water availability, quality, and access, and suggests the establishment of recycling and desalination plants. In the industry sector, the article calls for reforms to ramp up India's footprint in global manufacturing and attract investments by creating industrial clusters and leveraging surplus land with PSUs. The article emphasizes the importance of an active labour policy that aligns with market needs and the significance of skill development and upskilling. The choice of ministers in the cabinet is seen as an interesting pairing of focus areas with personalities, with the hope that it will deliver the promised results [66292df4][03bb97b4].
Andaleeb Rahman, a Cornell University academic and co-author of The Future of India’s Social Safety Nets, argues that India's social welfare schemes need to take a systemic approach and work together as a 'system' of programs with 'development resilience' as its overarching objective. Currently, the welfare programs are standalone schemes that do not address the interconnectedness of social welfare issues. Rahman suggests that there needs to be more synergy and coordination between the departments running the programs to address multiple dimensions of vulnerability. She also discusses the limitations of the PM-Kisan scheme and the challenges of implementing inheritance tax and universal basic income in India. Rahman highlights the importance of proper evaluation and data to understand the impact of welfare schemes and the need for a systems approach to ensure the effectiveness of public health insurance. She also warns against the potential threats of 'new welfarism' and the lack of democratic processes in decision-making [1020fccf][03bb97b4].
The common theme in all these regions is the recognition of the interconnectedness between water conservation, agriculture, and food security. By implementing sustainable practices such as drip irrigation, promoting urban agriculture, involving stakeholders in the management of River Basins, launching initiatives like the Agwa Cluster, and focusing on key areas like agriculture, water, and industry, these regions and countries are working towards ensuring a secure and sustainable food supply for their populations.
In Chandigarh, the capital city of the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, the administration has launched the 'Catch The Rain - 2024' campaign to address water scarcity. The campaign is part of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and aims to promote water conservation. UT adviser Rajeev Verma reviewed the progress plan with municipal commissioner Anindita Mitra and other senior officials. The campaign is a comprehensive water conservation initiative [4e4d3096].
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right and a necessity for the health and development of communities. Around 2 billion people lack access to fresh water, while more than 3 billion people lack adequate sanitation services. Water scarcity exacerbates gender inequality, disproportionately affecting women and girls. Better With Water deploys teams on the ground and builds connections with local communities to provide affordable water at home. The Philippines Senate's initiative to establish a department of water resources raises questions about its effectiveness in addressing water crises. Singapore and Hong Kong's expertise in water management can enhance water distribution and infrastructure collaboration. Gen Z prioritizes work-life balance and flexible working arrangements, leading to a divide between employers and employees. Employers should tap into the potential of Gen Z by making jobs more meaningful and flexible. Olympic athletes Eileen Gu and Vivian Kong Man-wai have competed and won medals for countries different from their birth and educational backgrounds, raising questions about their beliefs and motivations [03bb97b4].