THE ROLE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN WATER REPORTING

Abstract

Water use for crop irrigation is at its maximum, accounting for about 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals. Increasing demand for food, feed, fiber, and biofuels due to continued population growth will be addressed by expanding irrigated areas, especially in developing countries. However, there is increasing pressure to limit the water supply to irrigated agriculture and to produce more food with less water. Consequently, the search for water conservation/saving technologies/measures in irrigated agriculture has intensified. The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) launched its Global Water Save (WatSave) program in 1993 to promote and recognize water conservation practices worldwide. This article presents some innovative water conservation technologies/practices in some countries. It is clear that the successful upscaling of technologies to achieve greater water savings requires the combined efforts of policy makers, irrigation officials/managers, field level staff and farmers. The challenge is how to incorporate innovative technologies and management approaches into decision-making and long-term water management policy development. Exchange of ideas and communication between planners/decision makers, financial entities, scientists, local and regional authorities; establishing a mechanism for international cooperation and exchange of experience between higher education and research institutions and developing action plans to achieve practical results are some of the possible options