ICCG Webinar on Solutions for Water Efficiency, Water Productivity and Water Saving in Arid Countries

Concerns about water scarcity in arid countries focus on irrigation, the most water-demanding sector worldwide. Irrigation is often seen as wasteful and inefficient. In fact, irrigation efficiency can be as low as 40-50 percent, leading to misuse of this finite and precious resource. In response to this, the common response is that more efficient and productive irrigation will lead to water saving. In reality, however, the poorly defined “water use (not distinguishing between consumptive and non-consumptive uses) has often led to technical interventions that have not stimulated the expected saving”. They have instead worsened the initial water scarcity conditions. Hi-tech efficient irrigation alternatives, such as drip and micro-sprinklers, have a number of benefits: higher yields due to improved irrigation timing and uniformity, conserving fertilizer, saving labor and sometimes energy. Yet these solutions rarely save water. Similarly, increasing water productivity rarely conserves water. To actually save water we need to reduce consumption, that is, the quota of water that is lost through evapotranspiration by the crop field. For a given quota of water consumed, you would implement solutions that reduce the non-beneficial consumption of water (the part not consumed by crops). This can be achieved most effectively by limiting the area cultivated under irrigation, mulching, using sub-surface irrigation or greenhouses. This webinar will examine the current approaches to improving water use and recommend alternatives in the context of arid countries.

Speaker:
Pasquale Steduto, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Introduced by:
Isabella Alloisio, CMCC and FEEM

Register here for the webinar:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5102395124625492482

When and Where

Webinar - Webinar -

14 Apr 2015



Contacts

ICCG events office: [email protected]

Website Organized by
  • ICCG - International Center for Climate Governance

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