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Questions to the CA

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A core question for the CA is ”How can water for food be developed and managed to help end poverty and hunger, ensure environmentally sustainable water agriculture practice, find the balance between the food and environment security”.

 Questions from CA co-sponsors

 A set of critical questions selected by the steering commitee to guide the assessment

A first set of questions presented thereafter are the results of a facilitated technical workshop gathering 100 experts and the CA steering committee in early 2002. The steering committee of the CA gather a wide range of experts from IWMI, IRRI, IFPRI, World fish, FAO, SEI –formerly IHE delft-, Novid, Ministry of water resources-south Africa.

1. Water productivity in agriculture

a. What are the options and their consequences for improving water productivity in agriculture?

b. how can we grow more food with every drop of water? How much water can this potentially free up for other uses?

2. impacts of irrigated agricultural development

a. What have been the benefits, costs and impacts of irrigated agricultural development and what conditions those impacts?

b. how has irrigation development impacted poverty, food security, and the environment?

3. land and water degradation

a. What are the consequences of land and water degradation on water productivity and the multiple users of water in catchments?

b. what are the impacts of land and water degradation on agricultural productivity, livelihoods and the environment?

c. What are the options for reversing degradation?

4. low quality water

a. What is the extent and significance of use of low-quality water in agriculture (saline and wastewater), and what are options for its use?

b. how does the use of low quality water in agriculture – saline and wastewater- impact farmers and the environment?

 5. management of rainwater

a. What are the options for better management of rainwater to support rural livelihoods, food production, and land rehabilitation in water scarce areas? ( how can we better manage water and land in rainfed agriculture to increase food production, improve rural livelihood and maintain biodiversity?)

 6. using groundwater

a. What are the options and consequences for using groundwater?

b. How can we sustainability develop and manage groundwater to benefit poor communities?

7. capture-fisheries and aquaculture systems

a. What are the impacts of irrigation systems on freshwater fisheries?

b. How can we manage water to sustain and enhance capture-fisheries and aquaculture systems?

8. management in basins and catchments

a. What are the options for integrated water-resources management in basins and catchments?

b. what are the keys to implementing effective integrated water resources management in basins and catchments?

9. policy and institutional frameworks

a. What policy and institutional frameworks are appropriate under various conditions for managing water to meet goals of food and environmental security?

b. What kind of policy and institutional frameworks contribute to equitable, productive, gender balanced, and sustainable management of water for agriculture?

10. futures

a. How much more water will be needed for agriculture given the need to fill food security and environmental sustainability goals?

b. what types of investments are most promising?