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Global Land–Water Stress & the Future of Agriculture
Global Land–Water Stress & the Future of Agriculture
Context: FAO’s State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW 2025) warns that global agriculture must produce 50% more food, feed, and fibre by 2050, but rising pressure on limited land, soil, and water resources threatens future productivity.
What is the land use land change pattern?
- Production Growth by Intensification: Between 1964–2023, global agricultural production tripled, but this was achieved mainly by intensifying existing land use (higher-yielding crops, irrigation expansion, improved technologies).
- Limited Farmland Expansion: Farmland area grew by only 8% in six decades, while irrigated land more than doubled (23% of croplands now irrigated).
- Mounting Pressure: The same limited land is being pushed to deliver ever-greater food, feed, and fibre.
- Degradation: Over 1.6 billion hectares of land (10% of Earth’s area) are degraded due to poor management, with 60% of degradation on agricultural land.
- Deforestation & Ecosystem Loss: Agricultural expansion continues to drive deforestation and destroy carbon-rich ecosystems like peatlands.
Agriculture has shifted from land expansion to intensification, but this has led to soil degradation, water stress, and ecosystem damage.
Why is the agriculture and allied sector considered a concerning matter?
- Resource Overuse: Agriculture consumes 72% of global freshwater withdrawals, worsening water scarcity and groundwater depletion.
- Soil Degradation: Intensive farming reduces soil fertility, undermining productivity.
- Climate Impact: Expansion drives deforestation, peatland destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Food Security Risk: Degraded soils and declining water availability reduce the ability to meet current and future food demands.
- Vicious Cycle: Pressure on land, soil, and water reduces productivity, which in turn drives further unsustainable expansion.
What measures have been taken to address this concern?
Global Measures:
- FAO Strategies (SOLAW 2025):
- Close yield gaps (bridge the difference between current and potential yields).
- Diversify into resilient crop varieties.
- Adopt resource-efficient, locally tailored practices.
- Integrated systems: agroforestry, rotational grazing, forage improvement, rice-fish farming.
- International Agreements:
- Paris Climate Agreement → sustainable agriculture as part of climate commitments.
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
India-Specific Measures:
- National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Focus on soil health, water-use efficiency, and climate-resilient crops.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Improve irrigation efficiency (“more crop per drop”).
- Soil Health Card Scheme: Monitor and improve soil fertility.
- Agroforestry Policy (2014): Promote tree-based farming systems.
- PM Surya Ghar & Renewable Energy Integration: Reduce fossil fuel dependence in agriculture.
- Crop Diversification & Millets Promotion: Encourage climate-resilient, low-water crops.
- Digital Agriculture & Precision Farming: Use AI, sensors, and drones for resource-efficient practices.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
