United Nations Radio

Water is a major challenge for reaching the goal of feeding over 9 billion people in 2050, according to the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Dr. Jacques Diouf

Speaking at the opening of a forum of experts in Rome on Monday, Dr. Jacques Diouf said investments in improved water control and management should be a priority in efforts to mitigate climate change.

He stressed the need to simultaneously expand the land area under irrigation while using proportionately less water and pointed to Africa as a compelling case in this effort.

Dr. Diouf noted that only 7 per cent of Africa's arable land is irrigated and the figure drops to 4 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa compared with close to 40 per cent in Asia.

"The continent uses only 4 per cent of its water resources compared to 20 per cent in Asia. This means that on 93 per cent of African land life, people's survival depends on rainfall which climate change has turned into an increasingly unreliable factor."

Some 300 top international specialists are in Rome attending the two day High Level Experts Forum on How to Feed the World in 2050.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'19")