1 min
In observance of this year's World Food Day, water has been described as a vital resource and as a food. A statement that is acceptable to be true by all because our needs for water are for growth, development and sustenance of life.
It is always believed that water has no enemy because of its multipurpose uses. One of these purposes is in the agricultural sector. Its importance cannot be overemphasized especially for the production of food. Water is one of the important components for production because nutrients cannot be taken up by plants without first being dissolved by water. Water helps to break down these complex nutrients into simpler forms that plant roots can absorb easily. Therefore, water contributes to increased productivity of crops and their yield.
As far as food cannot be produced without water, water needs to be available at all times and in the right quantity to achieve food security. This is a call for agricultural stakeholders to put more importance on the issue of water availability as a result of the increasing usage of it due to the increasing population. Sadly, the impact of climate change and unavailability of water reservoirs are adversely affecting the availability of water especially for smallholder farmers, who rely solely on rainfed agriculture.
Both early and late dry spells have contributed to a decrease in productivity of crops and increased losses of crops and livelihood. Likewise, poor investment and lack of technical personnel have discouraged the promotion of water harvesting infrastructure amongst the farmers. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative source of water in the agricultural sector to achieve food security.
There is a need to build more water infrastructure like dams to retain more water or irrigation. In addition, there is a need to invest in alternative sources of water for food production in developing countries, and implement inclusive policies around water usage and management in order to make water an all year round available resource (water security). Since water is an integral component to achieve food security, we need to save water to make more food available. Without water, food security is just a dream and our reality is a mere illusion. Let us wake up from this dream and do the talk to make water secured because we are the generation of doers!
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
As far as food cannot be produced without water, water needs to be available at all times and in the right quantity to achieve food security. This is a call for agricultural stakeholders to put more importance on the issue of water availability as a result of the increasing usage of it due to the increasing population. Sadly, the impact of climate change and unavailability of water reservoirs are adversely affecting the availability of water especially for smallholder farmers, who rely solely on rainfed agriculture.
Both early and late dry spells have contributed to a decrease in productivity of crops and increased losses of crops and livelihood. Likewise, poor investment and lack of technical personnel have discouraged the promotion of water harvesting infrastructure amongst the farmers. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative source of water in the agricultural sector to achieve food security.
There is a need to build more water infrastructure like dams to retain more water or irrigation. In addition, there is a need to invest in alternative sources of water for food production in developing countries, and implement inclusive policies around water usage and management in order to make water an all year round available resource (water security). Since water is an integral component to achieve food security, we need to save water to make more food available. Without water, food security is just a dream and our reality is a mere illusion. Let us wake up from this dream and do the talk to make water secured because we are the generation of doers!
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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Dear Jeroen,
Thank you for your comment.
Traditionally, water is seen as very sacred to various communities and tribes. In some part of Nigeria, there is a spiritual perspective to water. Asides drinking, it is used as "cleansing" for bad omen. Water is used to wash the legs of new bride (traditionally) as it signifies cleansing and comfort for her new home. Also, the presence of water (rivers, streams) is a source of livelihood for the communities where it is located. Also, there are some taboos (related to water and its usage). This is just from a part of Nigeria. In other parts of Africa, water has several meanings to people of different cultures.
Hello Babatunde,
Water is a very interesting subject. Very interesting to read about water as food.
I chose it as a topic to delve into this year. I came across philosopher Thales of Miletus, among others. Through this, the picture emerges that western philosophers were not so keen on water. In fact, they even looked down on it a bit. To get to water, you have to descend to the river and/or harbour. Whereas mountains take you to height. Height is said to stand for prestige.
Asian, Chinese cultures seem to have a different handling and view of water than European thinking (which is now the step to delve more into). Within Europe, a distinction can be made between Mediterranean countries, calm and basically always warm water versus higher countries where water is more turbulent as sea and colder in winter, also in lakes and rivers.
Knowledge, resources and money from both America, Europe and Asia reaches the continent of Africa. Also for agricultural techniques and machinery is my assumption.
Have you ever perceived that there is or is not a difference how water is viewed by advisers from the mentioned continents?
Is there any interesting information how African populations view water traditionally? Perhaps a difference can be noticed between water-rich parts (river, lake and rainy season) versus the drier parts? For example, do they look at water as a source of life (feeds nutrients) or do they look at water as a danger of disease and flooding (erosion). Or indeed water is never seen as an enemy as you write?
Totally agree with your last paragraph. Also Dutch people have to learn a bit more of keeping water for dry(er) periods.