A Review of Evolving Critical Priorities for Irrigated Agriculture

The evolving roles and critical priorities of irrigated agriculture, as perceived by practitioners, researchers, and policy makers, were reviewed. Irrigated agriculture has played a vital role in meeting food and fiber demands on a relatively small proportion of total arable land. This role is presently expanding to also include biofuel and industrial materials production. At the same time, water availability is almost universally declining where intensive irrigation has been developed. This has been mainly due to declining water resources, inadequate storage capacity, or greater competition from non-agricultural uses. Although certain priorities may be specific to a location or region, the unifying priorities for irrigated agriculture, in order to meet unprecedented demands by a worldwide population that is increasing both in size and in industrialization, are to increase water productivity, sustain ecosystems, find synergy and avoid conflict among agriculture, urban and environmental uses of water resources.