Food security in Africa: managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region

The Conversation Africa covered Uncharted Waters’ work on food security and the impact improved water management can have in improving food production in Eastern Africa.

The application of our foodshed model confirms the potential of Africa to supply much of the increased demand for food within the continent. We looked at all food crops, including regionally important ones such as cassava, beans and millet. Countries in Eastern Africa play a pivotal role. Improved productivity due to local agricultural water management measures would reduce the need for more land elsewhere to grow crops.

What we propose requires large investments. Exploring these costs against benefits in the Rufiji basin in Tanzania we found that most water management measures would be cost effective, but only when considering the overall impact of water conservation on agriculture, hydropower production, and the riverine ecosystem.

Now also published in the French edition of The Conversation.