A G R I C U L T U R E

Food Security: The Impact of Drought and Floods

AUTHOR:AlbertinaShigwedha ResearchandWritingIntern@RDJConsulting

Courtesy:sdgsscoutorg

There is no question that agriculture is an essential sector that significantly contributes to the global economy and food production However, it is also a major consumer of water resources According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. With increasing water scarcity and the need to ensure food security, there is a growing interest in water-saving irrigation methods One such that has gained widespread popularity is drip irrigation

According to Shareef et al. (2019), drip irrigation is referred to as a technique aimed at distributing water near the roots in small quantities in a concentrated and hesitant manner to maintain the soil moisture needed for the plants It involves dripping water onto the soil at very low rates (2-20 litres/hour) from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets called emitters or drippers placed at specific intervals to release water slowly and directly to plants

Contrary to popular belief, drip irrigation is not a recent innovation. Its roots can be traced back to ancient China, where the ‘’Fan Shengzhi Shu’’ - an agricultural text created by Fan Shengzhi during the Han Dynasty, described similar method Drip irrigation is suitable for most soils, adaptable to any farmable slope, and can be used for a variety of crops including fruits, vegetables, trees, and vine crops planted along contour lines.

According to the FAO, regions like Tsumeb, Kavango East, Kavango West and Omusati in Namibia have implemented drip irrigation system. This method allows farmers to provide the exact amount of water required for the plants. There have also been other successful examples of drip irrigation implementation, such as at the Mondo farms - an emerging Zambian agribusiness venture owned and operated by Chisha Folotiya Mondo Farm specializes in vegetables but originally started with timber plantation of pine.

Besides saving water, drip irrigation offers several environmental benefits It reduces the leaching of nutrients and contaminants into groundwater by delivering water directly to the root zone It also promotes efficient use of water, up to 80% compared to flood sprinkler and centre pivot systems. Drip irrigation can mitigate many diseases transmitted by contact with vegetation through spray, reducing plant diseases and leading to better growth and health

One of the main drawbacks of drip irrigation can be its cost The equipment and labour required to install the system correctly are expensive, and the system requires more maintenance due to the clogging of emitters primarily from water quality issues.

In summary, the potential water saving with drip irrigation is substantial. Compared to flood irrigation, which can result in water loses of up to 50%, drip irrigation can save up to 30-70% of applied water. In arid regions like the Sub-Saharan Africa where water scarcity is a major concern, this can be a game-changer for sustainable agriculture Drip irrigation results in significant water savings compared to sprinkler or furrow irrigation methods and may be a viable option for resource-poor farmers in many water-scarce African countries

Readings:

https://sdgs scout org/project/low-cost-drip-irrigation-systemssmall-scale-farmers-minimize-hunger-tanzania https://www fao org/one-health/areas-of-work/water https://namibianfarming com/drip-irrigation-gaining-momentumin-namibia https://www modernjournals com/index php/ijma/article/view/656/576 https://www scirp org/journal/paperinformation? paperid=94955az1392-2016 0 pdf (arizona edu) https://www aquahubkenya co ke/drip-irrigation-inkenya/#:~:text=Farms%2C%20commercial%20greenhouses%2C%2 0and%20backyard,citrus%2C%20strawberries%2C%20and%20sug arcane https://www scirp org/pdf/JWARP 2019091015345918 pdf