Success in Virtual Water

Coming to my last post, exploring the current links between water and food in the African continent. Food production is the largest societal water consumption and It is easy to be oblivious to the gallons of water used in the production of making everyday goods. Exploring innovative technologies as well as agricultural water harvesting techniques has been a positive, eye opening experience.

I have left the concept of virtual water till last as I believe it is a very plausible solution that is easily applicable to many countries. It could possibly become one of the most important trades in years to come. Import rather than export water rich foods is the key.

What is virtual water:

Virtual water is the volume of water 'embedded' in agricultural  goods, the global trade of these products can save the host country water resources, as they are expelling less water for irrigation purposes. The exports of water intensive crops can ease stress a country's limited resources and assist a country's water demand management. The concept of virtual water has been alive for many thousands of years, specifically between cattle herders in the Sahel region, but has been modernised in light of globalisation and the ability to trade worldwide with water rich countries.

Virtual water appeared to me to be a particularly useful solution for countries with trans-boundary hydro political conflicts surrounding strained resources, shifting the usage of water to water rich countries freeing water for consumption and small scale irrigation. Water rich countries, are however currently importing goods from drought-prone countries to sustain the needs of their populations. The importing should be reversed to ensure a global balance of water.

Concept of virtual water in Egypt:

Egypt lies within the East Nile river basin, along with Sudan and Ethiopia. Egypt is a very arid country, with average rainfall rarely exceeding 200mm per annum (mostly falling in coastal areas). Due to unreliable precipitation patterns, irrigation must be relied on for agriculture.  Egypt relies on the River Nile as its main water source. 85% of the country's water use is used for irrigation purposes. Due to high levels of international trade, Egypt is a virtual water trader. The net virtual water import as a percentage of water resources is roughly 20%.

Egypt has  an advantage to the other countries in the East Nile river basin in the production of high-value crops for export, mostly to European and middle Eastern, markets. The import of food and fodder crops have contributed to Egypt's food security. Although food imports have increased, levels of domestic food production have also risen, this may be due to retain farmers livelihoods and reducing poverty.

Does virtual water trade provide a solution to water scarcity?

The potential to save water both nationally and internationally is substantial, however it would be misleading to think of it as the primary solution to water conservation. A disadvantage to virtual water trade is an increased dependency on other countries to provide food for another country, which leaves food and water security in the hands of possible complications, such as political and environmental issues.

Personally, I believe virtual water to be a very realistic solution to water scarcity. However, many articles express negativity towards countries, specifically within Africa increasing rates of food imports.

Reading through my peer's blog post on virtual water, a point was made about the viability of virtual water as an option for poorer countries, and whether they can afford to outsource food produce. Instead they suggest focusing on becoming self sufficient and focusing on agriculture that adapts to rainfall patterns.

The reduction in land being used for intensive farming gives time for fallow periods to regenerating the soil nutrients. This will also allow for better infiltration capacities of the soil, loosing less water to run-off. Higher crops yields have also been observed after fallow periods, for example research in Zimbabwe proved this to be the case after a maintained fallow period.

In light of this, farmers who may have been in the industry for years, even generation will have a loss of livelihood, with a niche skill set that is not easily transferable to another industry. Furthermore, looking at the Sahel, however leaving soil bare will expose it to soil erosion enhancing desertification in the arid region.