Virtual water and water footprints have been important in highlighting the role of water resources in international trade. However, some caution should be used when the concepts are applied to important policy questions. International trade is complex and involves many issues that are not captured in the notion of virtual water. Similarly, water use and allocation involve many more issues and implications than are captured in estimates of water footprints.
For instance, water footprinting analysis has been used to suggest that water-short countries should not produce and export water-intensive crops. This could encourage policymakers to promote production and trade strategies that reduce social net benefits. Several water-short countries, such as Israel, Jordan, and Australia, produce and trade water-intensive products. Those activities generate substantial revenue for the producers, while enhancing the portfolio of goods and services available in both the exporting and importing countries.
The virtual water perspective also neglects consideration of the impacts of production and trade on the livelihoods of individuals and the vibrancy of communities engaged in agriculture. Proposals to re-arrange international trading patterns based only on consideration of water endowments could impose substantial harm on individuals who earn their living in agriculture, particularly in poor countries.
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