Thumbnail Image

Enhancing Land and Water Productivity in Africa and the Near East through Remote Sensing Technology - GCP/INT/229/NET

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) All countries in North Africa and the Near East suffer from severe water scarcity. In this region, irrigated agriculture accounts for a large proportion of the water demand and is often the first sector affected by water shortages and scarcity. Notably, when water is in short supply, there are additional challenges for sustaining per capita food production and meeting domestic, industrial and environmental water needs. Further complicating matters, the total area suffering from severe water scarcity is expected to increase as a result of changing climatic conditions. Increasing water scarcity and competition for water resources also pose major threats to food security and poverty alleviation. If the effects of climate change are not managed effectively, more frequent and extensive periods of drought are expected, creating additional challenges for maintaining the balance between water demand and sustainable development. Despite the agriculture sector being a primary consumer of water, irrigation services and scheme performances have not been fully optimized in the region and best management practices and technologies have not been widely deployed. As such, this project was designed to support countries in monitoring land and water productivity, identifying productivity gaps and developing suitable solutions.

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    The State of Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Near East and North Africa region
    Summary Report
    2022
    Also available in:
    The State of Land and Water Resources (SOLAW) in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is part of a FAO flagship series launched in 2011. Being one of the most land and water scarce region in the world, the preservation of land and water resources is of critical importance to ensure food security and address the increased food demand. The publication aims at providing policy makers, institutions and other stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the current situation for land and water and the effect of climate change and urbanization on food production facilitating informed decision-making. The report provides the latest land and water resource statistics for the region and outlines important challenges that NENA is facing in the lead up to 2030 and beyond. It also presents positive initiatives from the region and a range of options available to help authorities respond to the issues of land and water resources.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    The State of Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Near East and North Africa region 2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The State of Land and Water Resources (SOLAW) in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is part of a FAO flagship series launched in 2011. Being one of the most land and water scarce region in the world, the preservation of land and water resources is of critical importance to ensure food security and address the increased food demand. The publication aims at providing policy makers, institutions and other stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the current situation for land and water and the effect of climate change and urbanization on food production facilitating informed decision-making. The report provides the latest land and water resource statistics for the region and outlines important challenges that NENA is facing in the lead up to 2030 and beyond. It also presents positive initiatives from the region and a range of options available to help authorities respond to the issues of land and water resources.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Guidelines for brackish water use for agricultural production in the Near East and North Africa region 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Water scarcity is one of the major challenges in the 19 countries of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. The lack of water is affecting important irrigated areas, limiting the increase of food production needed to address the growing demand due to population growth. In most countries of the NENA region, the need to use non-conventional water resources, including brackish water, is well recognized. Brackish water is loosely defined as water that is more saline than freshwater, but less saline than seawater. It covers a large range of salinity levels, from 500 to 30 000 mg/l of total dissolved solids (TDS). Despite the presence of large amounts of brackish water and its potential for use in growing a number of crops, it is only used in limited amounts for irrigation. The successful use of brackish water for irrigation requires a basic understanding of scientific principles affecting the interactions among the climate, the applied water, the soil, the crop, and the environment. Equally important is the application of suitable technology and management practices that will facilitate the optional use of this poor-quality water. The successful use of brackish water requires a higher level of management and likely the adoption of new irrigation management practices. Because climate, water quality, soil type, and crop tolerance to salinity vary from location to location, guidelines, with some degree of site-specific flexibility, must be developed.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.