Water Crisis & Asia

Scientists have warned Asian countries that they face chronic food shortages and likely social unrest if they do not improve water management.

Experts say: "countries in south and east Asia must spend billions of dollars to improve antiquated crop irrigation to cope with rapid population increases.

Without water productivity gains, south Asia would need 57% more water for irrigated agriculture and east Asia 70% more...

Given the scarcity of land and water, and growing water needs for cities, such a scenario is untenable...

The scenarios forecast do not factor in the impact of global warming, which will likely make rainfall more erratic and less plentiful in some agricultural regions over the coming decades...