Is irrigation farm development sustainable?

In the next three decades, the world’s population will have risen to 10 billion people. With this information, you can tell that the demand for food will also increase. Lack of irrigation puts many lives in danger of starvation. For example, in Africa, only 10% of arable land is irrigated, increasing the demand for food production each day. In addition, agriculture is very vulnerable to climate change, so sustainable irrigation has to consider a region’s weather changes to be truly sustainable.

So, is irrigation farm development sustainable?

Yes, irrigation farm development is sustainable because it closes the balance between supply and demand and helps mitigate environmental, economic, and social problems. You can say it makes the world a better, healthier, and happier place because it offers a positive cost-benefit balance.

This text will take you through why irrigation farm development is sustainable. But let’s start with what it is.

What is Irrigation Farm Development?

The farm development defines the practices involved in installing facilities that efficiently facilitate the irrigation of crops. To improve irrigation, farmers need to improve both irrigation methods and the systems involved in the irrigation process.

To enhance and improve irrigation, there should also be an improvement in the farmers’ skills. Enhancing their skills means that the farmers will now efficiently manage and control their irrigation systems.

Therefore, irrigation farm development also defines the development of the irrigation systems, methods of irrigation, and improving the skills of farmers. When all of these are combined, we can safely say an irrigation farm development in a region.

Most agricultural industries use three main irrigation techniques: micro-irrigation, surface irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation. Therefore, the irrigation farm development practices must consider these techniques when training the farmers, selecting the best method, and getting certified equipment for irrigation.

Why is Irrigation Farm Development an Important and Sustainable Venture?

Starting an irrigation farm development initiative may seem like a lot of work, especially for people who have never done it before. However, the good news is that irrigation farm development will pay back immensely in the future. There are great benefits when people develop individual farms for irrigation.

Now, let’s look at some benefits related to irrigation farm development practices.

Cost-Effectiveness

This benefit directly affects small farmers and those just starting in the agricultural industry. With irrigation, farmers are able to minimize water wastage. Water is controlled to only the amounts necessary for the crops. This saves on water bills, especially for farmers who pay for their water or electricity to pump water to their farms.

Increases Yield

Yield increase is the number one reason why irrigation farm development is important. However, agriculture is highly affected by climate change. Due to the adverse weather changes globally, many regions are now experiencing more dry than wet seasons. Therefore, there is always an expected drop in crop yields during the dry seasons.

Irrigation helps curb this dry season’s issues by providing crops with constant water. So, whether or not the crops can get rainwater, the crops will continue to yield, thanks to all-year-round irrigation.

Improves The Economy of an Area

The installation of the farm equipment means that there will be increased employment for people with the skills to install such equipment. Secondly, the irrigation water used on the farms will be taxed hence adding more to the area’s revenue.

With irrigation, farmers can also grow cash crops that will, in turn, have a positive effect on the region’s economy. Also, due to the high yields, irrigation makes a region self-sufficient in food, which saves on funds that would have otherwise been used to import food.

Production of Hydroelectric Power

Irrigation systems need large irrigation channels or even the building of dams to preserve and supply water to farms. In addition to irrigation, the power of the water in the channels and dams can also be used to produce hydroelectric power, which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than fossil fuel and other forms of power production.

Each day, global climate change becomes unbearable, but efficient irrigation practices can reduce the climate change agony. There are many reasons why irrigation farm development is important, but the above are the most reasons that anyone can relate to—these benefits your proof of why irrigation farm development is important and sustainable.

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