Smart irrigation – Smart wash. Solutions in response to the pandemic crisis in Africa
Publication year
Resource type
UNCCD Library
Material Type
Book
Uncertainties related to the impacts of COVID-19 on daily life are increasingly growing. Inherent effects have grown beyond the well-defined sphere of health risks and have shocked the livelihood and food security in several countries. Particularly in the poorest countries, the impact is more devastating due to the limited availability of resources to slow down the spread of the disease. These countries require immediate actions to safeguard food security and human health. Irrigation has a great role in improving crop productivity and ensuring food security. However, expanding irrigation could impact the availability of water for sanitation and hygiene which has a central role in slowing down the spread of the disease. It is, thus, clearer that irrigation development should also comply with the requirement of extended need of water for sanitation and hygiene. Developing multiple water use would certainly allow to fight the pandemic while ensuring the basic needs of food security in rural communities. To support the concept of multiple water use, a new initiative called SMART irrigation – SMART WASH is proposed for corporate solutions to enhance irrigation and provide WASH facilities to vulnerable communities, thus, responding to the critical needs in times of pandemic crisis.
Geographical Keywords
Africa
Keywords
crop production
irrigation schemes
indicators
vulnerability
risk assessment
water management
agriculture
investments
health protection
Documents