Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

2 0 8 / C H A L L E N G E S T O L I F E A N D W E L L - B E I N GSecuring Food for a Growing World PopulationMap 8.2: Agricultural water withdrawals as percentage of renewable water resources (1998)0 5 10 20 >40 no data(%)The importance of agriculture in countries’ water balance is shown here. Whereas agricultural water withdrawals account for little of the total renewable water resources inthe majority of countries, certain regions, such as north-east Africa and western Asia, are notable in that their agricultural withdrawals add up to more than 40 percent oftheir total water resources – and in the Near and Middle East, they represent a staggering 1,000 percent.Source: Map produced for the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) by the Centre for Environmental Research, University of Kassel. Data source: AQUASTAT, 2002.Table 8.4: Water use efficiency in 1998 and 2030 (predicted) in ninety-three developing countriesSub-Saharan Africa Latin America Near East – North Africa South Asia East Asia All countriesWater use efficiency in irrigation (%)1998 33 25 40 44 33 382030 37 25 53 49 34 42Irrigation water withdrawal as a percentage of renewable water resources (%)1998 2 1 53 36 8 82030 3 2 58 41 8 9The projected rates of water use efficiency show a global potential, although some regions that have already largely tapped into their potential water use efficiency should remain stable, forexample the Near East. The percentage of renewable water resources used for irrigation is set to increase in almost all regions as agriculture will continue to be the major user of water in theforeseeable future.Source: FAO, 2002.