An Introduction to water and food in Africa
In the rich tapestry of the African continent, water serves as both a life-giving force and a central challenge in the pursuit of sustainable food production. Despite Africa's vast endowment with 9% of the world's total freshwater resources, translating this natural capital into agricultural productivity presents a complex puzzle. With a per capita availability of 5,000 cubic meters per year (FAO, 2003) , the continent's water wealth appears abundant. Yet, the reality on the ground paints a contrasting picture of scarcity and uneven distribution. The landscape of African agriculture is predominantly shaped by the rhythms of the rain. In the sub-Saharan expanse, where the green vegetation owes its vibrancy to the seasonal downpours, only about 4% of the arable land benefits from the assurance of irrigation (Giordano, 2006) . This figure may not fully encapsulate the efforts of small-scale irrigators, but it underscores a stark reliance on rain-fed agriculture that dominates ...
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