Making Every Drop Pay

The improvements that Israeli companies have made to drip irrigation have seen them emerge as world leaders in irrigation efficiency. Inventors from all parts of the world take inspiration from them to offer an entire spectrum of innovations that help farmers farm better. Denene Erasmus reports.

- Denene Erasmus

For many farmers around the world, high demand, low profitability and dwindling access to natural resources make the environment in which they have to operate tougher by the year.

In order to provide enough affordable food for the world’s fast-growing population, and at a time when increased climate volatility is affecting water availability, farmers have to invest in technology that makes the most of every drop of water used.

WORLD-LEADING METHODS

Israel has gained renown for developing irrigation systems that increase the efficiency of water use in agriculture per ton of output or hectare irrigated, and many farmers across the world have benefitted from implementing this technology.

Water use in Israel’s agriculture sector decreased almost continuously from the mid- 1990s to the early 2000s, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s ‘Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021’.

Agriculture’s share of total water use fell from more than 70% in 1980 to 57% by 2005, and is projected to drop to 52% by 2025, notes the report.