Water lies at the core of sustainable development concerns, and its rational and equitablemanagement is crucial for human survival. That was one of the key messages to arise from theWorld Summit on Sustainable Development2 that was held in Johannesburg this summer. Nextyear's Third World Water Forum in Japan will address this issue in greater depth.

　　It is therefore fitting that this year's World Food Day spotlights the role of water in food security.Without water, there can be no food production. In fact, the agricultural sector is the user of 70percent of the planet's water supply. In a world in which per capita water availability is declining,we need to focus on appropriate water management if we are to sufficiently increase foodproduction, with a view to reduce hunger and malnutrition, and feed a population expected to riseto 8 billion in 30 years'time.

　　Shortage of water threatens extensive agricultural regions in developing countries and fans theprospect of food crises. At present, twenty countries do not have enough water to produce thefood their populations need. In some cases, the overexploitation of water resources underminesfuture agricultural production, while in others, their underexploitation inhibits development.

　　The combined vicious impact of poverty, rising demand for food and insufficient availability ofwater therefore poses a serious challenge for world food security and universal access to cleanwater. One billion people are deprived of clean water, and most of these people are also hungry.They live in rural areas and agriculture is their main source of income.

　　How are we to ensure water availability and food security, while safeguarding the environment?At present, more than one-third of the world's food production comes from the irrigated areas thatmake up 16 percent of the planet's arable land. Irrigated farming is at least twice as productive asrainfed farming3, and during the next 30 years some 70 percent of additional food production indeveloping countries should come from irrigated land.

　　It is urgent to avoid poor irrigation practices that have often led to diminishing water supplies, landdegradation and spread of disease . Far too often, more water is being pumped than can possiblybe recharged. Also , too much water is being lost along canals, because of leakage , wastage ,seepage or evaporation. Too many schemes are losing productivity because of inappropriatedrainage, waterlogging and a build-up of salts in the soil.

　　We thus have to turn increasingly to adopt integrated watershed management, curb the upstreamdeforestation that generates flooding and erosion, and significantly increase investment in watercontrol infrastructure. Finally, water use will be sustainable only if it is done in a socially equitablemanner.

　　New water policy, and institutions and laws will facilitate the integrated management of river basinsand water resources by all stakeholders, in a climate of transparency, accountability and socialjustice.

　　The cooperation of all development partners, the public, private and non-profit sectors at nationaland international level, will be indispensable to resolve conflicts of interest, mobilize substantialfinancial resources and create conditions for a fairer distribution of food and water.

　　The countries of Africa , the Middle East and southern Asia that are already facing serious watershortages will see their situation rapidly worsen unless there is stronger solidarity between theregions of abundance and the regions of scarcity. Such solidarity is necessary if we are to avoida proliferation and aggravation of tensions relating to water .

　　練習(xí)題：

　　Ⅰ. Fill in each blank with proper words or phrases from the passage :

　　1. Many people in Africa ( 剝奪) their rights of living peacefully.

　　2. A few of spies are planning to ( 破壞) the social stability.

　　3. Library is usually regarded as a ( 非盈利) organization.

　　Ⅱ. Question :

　　Why should we avoid poor irrigation practices?