By Sally Martinelli
Rome, 22 March– Water is synonymous with life and integral to sustainable development around the world.
This is why World Water Day (WWD) was established by the United Nations General Assembly, which this year falls on March 22. WWD gives people an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference.
At IFAD, we have highlighted why water is so important to rural people and small farmers.
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Searching for water is an strenuous, lengthy, and unpaid responsibility that usually falls to women. Women spend hours every day walking to retrieve water and transporting it back to their homes.
When water is readily accessible, studies show that school enrollment and attainment improves for girls – much more so than for boys. And in some places, women spend more time in market-related activities when they don’t have to fetch and carry water. This is why water is a crucial step in empowering rural women.
Women make up the majority of smallholder farmers, yet often are not recognized for their work in the same way than men are. Making water accessible is one way to lessen women's work load and level the playing field. When women have the tools to improve their lives, they show remarkable ingenuity and resistance.
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a diverse list of benchmarks that the United Nations is using to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Goal 6 and 14 of the Sustainable Development goals are linked to water.
Goal 6 is to ensure the safe access to clean water for everyone by combating food scarcity, protecting water-related ecosystems, and improve water and saline management. IFAD's work with saline water in Viet Nam is just one example of how we work towards clean water for all.
Goal 14 calls for the conservation and sustainable use of the Earth's oceans, seas, and other bodies of water. This will not only preserve our water's biodiversity and fight pollution, but also addresses the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
SIDS are susceptible to climate change and over exploitation of natural resources, and often are rural and impoverished. IFAD is currently supporting numerous projects within these regions to help them tap into their potential.
As a specialized agency of the UN, IFAD is committed to making the SDGs a reality. These goals are an essential component of making the world a better place for everyone, and water is a crucial part of this solution.
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Climate change is a daunting problem for our planet. Without the environment, we have no future within any industry, most especially agriculture.
Smallholder farmers have to combat extreme weather conditions such as drought, floods and tropical storms that drastically impact their yields. In addition, hazardous climate conditions affect a farmer's ability to store, process, and sell their product at the market.
IFAD is working to ensure that the programs it implements gives small farmers the information, tools, and technologies to fight climate change.
The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) is the largest global financing source dedicated to building their resilience to climate change by channeling climate finance directly to farmers. One project that IFAD is funding through ASAP is strengthening Mozambique's cassava value chain through the use of drought tolerant, pest resistant and high yielding varieties of the plant.
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Young people have big dreams, and often move to pursue them if they think their home does not have the tools to achieve them.
Impoverished areas without water see their future migrate away and suffer without their ideas and energy that spur development. When water is brought to an area, it is revitalized. Young people will stay and grow with their home as water brings in industry, and with young people comes economic growth, political stability and social harmony.
The future farmers for the world will have to feed nine billion people. IFAD hopes to draw young people into agriculture by providing the tools and training so they could have great success in this field.
In the Niger Delta, an IFAD-funded project worked to provide exciting and profitable jobs for young people in fish farming. It helped provide over 20,000 jobs, which prevented their migration or participation in violent activities.
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Water and agriculture depend on one another. Without access to water, farmers will not be able to grow enough food to feed the world's population. 70 per cent of all freshwater withdrawals are used to irrigate farmlands, and this percentage will need to increase by 10 per cent to feed the world in 2050.
Water is especially important to small farms in sub-Saharan African and parts of Asia, which provide up to 80 per cent of the regions' food.
As the food industry depends on small farmers, small farmers rely on agriculture. It is the main source of income for many people who live in developing countries.
If they are unable to work due to restricted access to water, small farmers will not survive. IFAD's mission is rooted in supporting smallholder farmers so they can improve the quality of their lives.
Working with water, like an IFAD-supported project in Ethiopia that helped farmers feed their families, is a vital part of IFAD's work.
Rome, 22 March– Water is synonymous with life and integral to sustainable development around the world.
This is why World Water Day (WWD) was established by the United Nations General Assembly, which this year falls on March 22. WWD gives people an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference.
At IFAD, we have highlighted why water is so important to rural people and small farmers.
Water means equality
When water is readily accessible, studies show that school enrollment and attainment improves for girls – much more so than for boys. And in some places, women spend more time in market-related activities when they don’t have to fetch and carry water. This is why water is a crucial step in empowering rural women.
Women make up the majority of smallholder farmers, yet often are not recognized for their work in the same way than men are. Making water accessible is one way to lessen women's work load and level the playing field. When women have the tools to improve their lives, they show remarkable ingenuity and resistance.
Water means progress
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a diverse list of benchmarks that the United Nations is using to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Goal 6 and 14 of the Sustainable Development goals are linked to water.
Goal 6 is to ensure the safe access to clean water for everyone by combating food scarcity, protecting water-related ecosystems, and improve water and saline management. IFAD's work with saline water in Viet Nam is just one example of how we work towards clean water for all.
Goal 14 calls for the conservation and sustainable use of the Earth's oceans, seas, and other bodies of water. This will not only preserve our water's biodiversity and fight pollution, but also addresses the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
SIDS are susceptible to climate change and over exploitation of natural resources, and often are rural and impoverished. IFAD is currently supporting numerous projects within these regions to help them tap into their potential.
As a specialized agency of the UN, IFAD is committed to making the SDGs a reality. These goals are an essential component of making the world a better place for everyone, and water is a crucial part of this solution.
Water means hope
Climate change is a daunting problem for our planet. Without the environment, we have no future within any industry, most especially agriculture.
Smallholder farmers have to combat extreme weather conditions such as drought, floods and tropical storms that drastically impact their yields. In addition, hazardous climate conditions affect a farmer's ability to store, process, and sell their product at the market.
IFAD is working to ensure that the programs it implements gives small farmers the information, tools, and technologies to fight climate change.
The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) is the largest global financing source dedicated to building their resilience to climate change by channeling climate finance directly to farmers. One project that IFAD is funding through ASAP is strengthening Mozambique's cassava value chain through the use of drought tolerant, pest resistant and high yielding varieties of the plant.
Water means jobs
Impoverished areas without water see their future migrate away and suffer without their ideas and energy that spur development. When water is brought to an area, it is revitalized. Young people will stay and grow with their home as water brings in industry, and with young people comes economic growth, political stability and social harmony.
The future farmers for the world will have to feed nine billion people. IFAD hopes to draw young people into agriculture by providing the tools and training so they could have great success in this field.
In the Niger Delta, an IFAD-funded project worked to provide exciting and profitable jobs for young people in fish farming. It helped provide over 20,000 jobs, which prevented their migration or participation in violent activities.
Water means food
Water and agriculture depend on one another. Without access to water, farmers will not be able to grow enough food to feed the world's population. 70 per cent of all freshwater withdrawals are used to irrigate farmlands, and this percentage will need to increase by 10 per cent to feed the world in 2050.
Water is especially important to small farms in sub-Saharan African and parts of Asia, which provide up to 80 per cent of the regions' food.
As the food industry depends on small farmers, small farmers rely on agriculture. It is the main source of income for many people who live in developing countries.
If they are unable to work due to restricted access to water, small farmers will not survive. IFAD's mission is rooted in supporting smallholder farmers so they can improve the quality of their lives.
Working with water, like an IFAD-supported project in Ethiopia that helped farmers feed their families, is a vital part of IFAD's work.