On October 18, during an exclusive interview, we learned from the Ministry of Water Resources of China that on October 17, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a high-level dialogue on the “Global Framework for Agricultural Water Scarcity” in Rome, Italy. Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying led the Chinese delegation and delivered a keynote address in which he proposed establishing a comprehensive system aimed at enhancing water-saving efficiency in agriculture.
Minister Li emphasized that China’s unique geography and climate make water management crucial for agriculture. In recent years, the Ministry of Water Resources has significantly improved the capacity of water management to support agricultural food production. The ministry has been actively modernizing irrigation systems, promoting water conservation, leveraging technology in irrigation, and strengthening disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. Notably, China, with only 9% of the world’s arable land and 6% of freshwater resources, sustains nearly 20% of the global population.
To effectively address the complex and profound changes in global water resources, Minister Li proposed a five-point initiative to enhance water-saving efficiency in agriculture based on China’s practices and experiences:
First, establish a scientific irrigation system that aligns with the biological characteristics and water needs of crops by formulating appropriate irrigation schedules and quotas.
Second, develop a comprehensive water measurement and monitoring system to improve the coverage, accuracy, and practicality of agricultural water use, which will support the management of water demand in agriculture.
Third, implement an agricultural water pricing policy system that establishes a scientific and reasonable water pricing mechanism to curb unreasonable water demand, promote water-saving irrigation, and attract social capital for investment in irrigation infrastructure.
Fourth, create a market-based water rights trading system to incentivize water-saving practices through enhanced rewards for conservation.
Fifth, establish a technical and service framework for water-saving practices that includes promoting advanced and suitable irrigation technologies, providing specialized guidance, and facilitating services to improve efficiency.
This high-level water dialogue aimed to share policies, technologies, and experiences from various countries in tackling agricultural water scarcity. A declaration titled “Rome Declaration on Agricultural Water Scarcity” was issued during the meeting, urging member states to support FAO initiatives and enhance international cooperation in addressing agricultural water resource challenges.
