Young woman collects water from a tap in rural Zambia

Water

106,600
hectares of farmland supported with water-related infrastructure in 2019–2021
308,416
households with improved water availability
4,263
production and processing facilities with improved water availability
©IFAD/Enoch Kavindele Jr
Water is essential for a functioning food system, yet this precious resource is under threat. For rural communities to flourish, small-scale farmers must be supported so they can sustainably access and manage water.   

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Context

Our world is increasingly water-insecure. Most people today live in countries without sustainable access to enough safe water to meet human needs. Indeed, 72 per cent of the world’s population is considered water-insecure, 8 per cent critically so. 

Climate change is changing weather patterns and causing more frequent droughts and floods, affecting water availability. Meanwhile, rising sea levels are causing salt water to contaminate many freshwater sources. 

No sector is the more impacted by water insecurity than agriculture. The vast majority of IFAD project participants rely on rainfall to farm, but this is becoming less dependable with climate change. And while 71 per cent of all freshwater used globally goes towards producing food and other crops, agriculture is often given lower priority in water allocation. 

At the same time, the sector does not always use it efficiently. Many farms still irrigate in unsustainable and unproductive ways, further exacerbating water stress around the world. 

Opportunities

Investing in sustainable irrigation can double or even triple the productivity of rainfed agriculture by small-scale farmers. While large irrigation schemes are often unsustainable and difficult to develop and maintain, well-planned small schemes are both effective and efficient. 

Efficient irrigation enables more food to be produced on less land and extends growing seasons. Used right, it can increase yields of diversified and higher-value crops.  

At the same time, infrastructure and technology can increase water availability so that there is a better supply in the first place. Conserving the catchment areas of water sources and aquifers also improves sustainable access to water for the rural poor. 

Finally, investing in policies and local institutions can result in better management and allocation of water resources, giving groups equal access and usage rights. 

Expanding irrigation and boosting water access could unlock huge productive potential. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, only 6 per cent of cultivated land is currently irrigated.  

What IFAD does

  • By advocating for an integrated and participatory approach to water resource management, IFAD empowers rural communities to participate in managing the productive resources they depend on. 

  • We work with rural people to conserve landscapes that provide essential ecosystem services. This ensures that the watersheds used by those downstream – whether lowland farmers or city dwellers – are healthy and used sustainably. 

  • We invest in climate-resilient water infrastructure for small-scale farmers, which enables them to stand strong in the face of increasingly erratic rainfall. This reduces the risk of crop failures, improves agricultural production and stabilizes yields and food prices in times of climate and economic shocks. We support farmers in using techniques like drip and precision irrigation to deliver just the right amount of water to their crops, without wasting a drop. 

  • Too much water can be as hazardous as too little. We support farmers in vulnerable areas in monitoring and preventing saline water intrusion, as well as building flood-resistant infrastructure like bunds and check dams. 

  • By supporting multi-purpose water supply schemes that serve both homes and farms, we contribute to improved health and nutrition outcomes and empower women by reducing the need to fetch water. This frees up time and energy for income-generating and caregiving activities.  

  • We invest in and work closely with local communities, governments and institutions to sustainably manage water infrastructure. This also creates jobs and businesses that supply goods and services, which is especially key for empowering rural youth. 

  • Our investments in green and efficient water infrastructure, technologies and practices support efforts to decarbonize the agricultural sector, from production and storage to processing and marketing   

Experts

Dan Martin

Senior Technical Specialist, Water and Rural Infrastructure (Asia and the Pacific)

[email protected]
Raul Munoz Castillo

Lead Global Technical Specialist, Water and Rural Infrastructure

[email protected]
Bernard Keraita

Country Programme Coordinator, Water & Rural Infrastructure (East and Southern Africa)

[email protected]
Grace Murungi

Global Technical Specialist, Rural infrastructure and Renewable Energy (Near East, North Africa and Europe)

[email protected]

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