Simplification of planning to meet future demands for food and water
Date
2002-07
Authors
Hargreaves, George H., author
Jensen, Donald T., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
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Abstract
There is now insufficient food for half of the world's population and in many areas the population is increasing faster than the food supply. Part of the current food supply is produced by depleting groundwater, overgrazing, degrading agricultural lands, and slash and burn agriculture. In order to conserve resources for future generations, these practices need to be eliminated. Countries with a good food supply also have good population stability. If food production from irrigated alluvial lands can be increased fast enough, then irrigated agriculture can stabilize population growth and greatly reduce the depletion of resources. Slash and burn agriculture results in deforestation, flooding of alluvial lands, and erosion. High priority needs to be given to eliminating this practice. This paper present methods and equations for simplifying water resource development planning and management. The World Water and Climate Atlas is briefly described. Development of a surface water Atlas is proposed. Some of the benefits that have resulted from the construction of large dams and the irrigation of alluvial lands are described.
Description
Presented at the 2002 USCID/EWRI conference, Energy, climate, environment and water - issues and opportunities for irrigation and drainage on July 9-12 in San Luis Obispo, California.