Post on 26-Apr-2018
How important is the Virtual How important is the Virtual water debate in ensuring food water debate in ensuring food
security?security?
Paul van Paul van HofwegenHofwegen
Why the debate?
Virtual water debate initiated to address
– Agricultural versus environmental water use
– Water productivity and agriculture in water scarce areas
Match or mismatch 1?
IMPORT OR INVEST
Undernourished People by Country (FAO-1998)
Water Infrastructure
Exporter volumes of virtual water in food trade (Oki, 2003)
Global Water Saving (Comprehensive Assessment 2004
• All imports (214 Mton) would have required 433 km3 crop water and 179 km3 local irrigation water depletion.
• Global water saving: 163 km3 crop water and 112 km3 local irrigation water depletion (11%).
Match or mismatch 1?• Awareness of the VW concept can result
in water savings
• Virtual water flows are going to those countries that can afford food imports.
• In these countries it can be considered an alternative for investments– Trade arrangement – agreements– Geo-political dimension
Match or mismatch 2 ?
NATIONAL vs LOCAL
Food insecurity in India (FAO 2004)
Exporter volumes of virtual water in food trade (Oki, 2003)
Match or mismatch 2 ?
Local Food Security• Virtual water trade can only improve local food
security – distribution makes food locally available– food is affordable– food is absorbable
Match or mismatch 3 ?
LIVELIHOODS
Nkya• Nkya can secure food for him and his family if:
– He has access to land and water, he is healthy and it is safe• Nkya can develop if:
– He has secured water and land rights– He has access to markets, affordable technology and inputs– He can cope with insecurity of water (droughts – floods)– He has access to finance for investments necessary
• Virtual water trade will affect his livelihood– Water rights are affected– Local market prices are affected– Production subsidies are affected
Pak Syukri
• Virtual water policies will affect local food security if irrigation water allocation priorities are changed– Out of agriculture– Out of high water consuming – low
value crops (staple food)
Some dimensions: viable farming - poverty
SURVIVALSURVIVAL
COMMERCIALCOMMERCIAL
SUBSISTENCESUBSISTENCE
MORE and betterMORE and better
LANDLANDWATER WATER -- iNPUTSiNPUTS
MARKETMARKETSERVICESSERVICES
MORE and betterMORE and better
LANDLANDWATER WATER -- INPUTSINPUTS
MARKETMARKETSERVICESSERVICES AlternativeAlternative
employment employment income income
generationgeneration
Match or mismatch 3 ?
Virtual water trade policy may affect the livelihoods of the ‘survival’ and ‘subsistence’ farmers.
Matching policy on investments in creation alternative employment opportunities essential.
Match or mismatch 4 ?
DIETS
Virtual Water Content
Menu
Match or mismatch 4 ?
• Development towards meat based diets has an important impact on – Water resources required– Water pollution
• Awareness of Virtual Water content may contribute to lesser growth
Does the debate contribute to food security?
• The debate informs decision makers on the potential and consequences of virtual water based policies.
• The debate allows for
Conscious Choices
Thank you for your attention !