1. IWRM AS AN APPROACH FOR FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE SADC REGION
AMOS MAJULE
Ph.D
(GWP-SA RTEC)
AND GWP-SA SECRETARIAT

2. 1.0 Agriculture challenges in the SADC
Livelihoods in SADC countries depend on agriculture employing between 60-80% of the RP
Agriculture most important economic sector accounting for 70-80% of total water use
Depends on rain which has so many challenges, still not well developed to meet an ever increasing food demand
Apart from rain, other challenges;
land degradation (soil and water degradation)
shocks and trends (floods, droughts, removal of subsidies on agric. input
deterioration of water quality for agriculture
deterioration of both social and physical infrastructures
declining budget on agriculture and many other related factors and
lack of integrated approaches for managing agriculture.

3. Nearly between 40 and 60% of communities in RA are food insecure for a period of between 2 and 4 months per year
Water has been recognized to be the most limiting factor for agriculture:
Only 19% of the region receives more than 1500 mm of rain annually while 24% receives less than 500 mm each year.
Significant increase in water demand by other not agricultural sectors
Climate change and variability further compound the problem
Reduction on underground water
Excessive surface runoff due to floods
Increasing temperature-the rate of water loss through evaporation
Clearing of vegetation (deforestation, expansion of agricultural land) led to loss of water storage
=Food production problem in most areas: increasing rural poverty=

4. Food insecurity arises when people do not have physical and economic access to sufficient safe, nutritious, and culturally acceptable food to meet their dietary needs.

5. Based on the declaration made by SADC heads of state in 2004, there is no way that food security will be achieved in the region, an integrated approach in managing water resource is necessary;
At community level (upstream-down stream relationships)
Sub basin (within countries)
Basin
Nationals (shared water, basins)
Regional (eg Nile Basin Initiative, Zambezi etc)
Therefore calls for Improving/strengthening water resource management in order to address the challenges that exists “through IWRM”

6. 2.0 WHAT IS INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (IWRM)?
By 2050, the share for agricultural water will have declined to about 60 and 70% as a result of competing water demands
Need for critical and realistic evaluation of water use efficiency in our countries so that water can be used effectively in order to achieve the MDGs
IWRM is a process that promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising sustainability of vital ecosystems.
In this context, anti-poverty efforts around the world, guided by the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and country-level strategies, increasingly recognizing the importance of good water management if poverty and hunger is to be allaeviated”.

7. The cross-sectoral integration between water use sub-sectors, and the role of IWRM in their linkage, is illustrated in the “GWP comb” below:

8. General framework for IWRM

9. It build resilience taking into account water demands for 3 key aspects;
Social equity (human survival)
For example encouraging structured engagement of communities and other impacted sectors into its management (gender consideration)
Access of water for domestic use by different groups including the poor (also equal distribution and welfare)
Voice of disadvantaged groups particularly women
Economic efficiency
Promotes efficiency and effective ways of using water for example efficiency water use for irrigation (establishing water demands for crops, appropriate water management etc)
More production (also issues of market economics)
Environmental sustainability
Balanced water supply to maintain ecosystems eg soils, forest, wildlife, wetlands which plays significant roles on community livelihoods

10. 3.0 IWRM AS AN APPROACH FOR ADRESSING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
IWRM creates a framework for water management options to be introduced into broader national development planning in a structured way
IWRM engages water users to develop solutions to challenges that are appropriate in terms of social and environmental impacts as well as economic efficiency
IWRM can provide input to National Development by highlighting areas of constraints to pro poor development, Identify development options too.
In 2002 World Summit, called an assistance to develop countries in efforts to prepare IWRM: In this context, GWP-SA has been at the frontier line in terms of;
Creating conducive institutional environment for example support the establishment of CWP which implements a number of projects
Implementing GWP strategies, goal 1 (promoting water as a key part for sustainable national development) through IWRM, good governance, financing and appropriate infrastructure
Goal 2, addressing critical development challenges by contributing and advocating solutions to critical challenges
Climate change
Growing urbanization
Food production
Resource use conflicts

11. Policy issues…….in achieving food security
Change the way we think about water and agriculture
Consider agriculture as an agro ecosystem Vs other ecosystems
Fight poverty by improving access to agriculture water and its use (multiple use of water: domestic, agroforestry, livest. Aquaculture, etc.
Manage agriculture to enhance ecosystem service
Increase water productivity
Limit land degradation, efficient water use
Upgrade rain fed systems – a little water can go a long way
Soil moisture, supplementary irrigation etc
Adapt yesterday’s irrigation to tomorrows needs
Modernize, mix technology, integrate with livestock, fishery etc
Reform the reform process-targeting state institutions
Deal with trade offs and make difficult choices

12. 4.0 SOLUTIONS NEEDED TOWARDS IWRM-FOOD SECURITY
Promote IWRM by engaging sectors and link with national development goals
Bring water and agricultural very close starting from local levels, catchments, sub basins, basins and possibly into trans boundary or shared basins
Water resource varies across countries: There is a need to promote/ develop strategies on how water resources can be shared, also benefits
This calls for effective regional integration taking into account (shared vision programs on common water)
Research and capacity building of different boundary partners within agricultural and water sectors is crucial
Information, products etc (strengthen AGRIC. INNOVATION SYSTEMS)

13. 5.0 Key messages
CC change is inevitable, it will continue to change and its impacts on water resources will be amplified.
IWRM – the best approach to manage water resources and thus address food insecurity
Countries be equipped with new tools to enable them to develop appropriate approaches to address the common food insecurity.
Investing to increase agriculture production, trade within and between countries
To achieve food security, the burden must not be left to agric and water sector alone, different sectors needs to sit together in order to define their roles, harmonize policies, address technical and financial issues

15. Thank You for Your Attention
Asante sana