Farmers around the world are spreading raw sewage all over their farms, researchers say.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters put a spotlight on farmers who use urban wastewater to irrigate their fields. The findings highlight the need for policymakers to balance the benefits of water reuse with “the need to invest in wastewater treatment to protect public health,” according to the journal article.
The study revealed that “crops covering almost 36 million hectares — an area roughly the size of Germany — are irrigated with water from rivers and lakes used by cities within 40 km (25 miles) upstream to discharge sewage,” Reuters reported.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the