CHALLENGES
To day agriculture accounts for 70% of all water use globally and up to 95% in several developing countries to keep pace with growing demand for food. It is estimated that 14% more fresh water will be needed to be withdrawn for agriculture purposes alone in the next 30 years. If we add water requirement for other uses like drinking, industrial and other environmental services, water security for the humans and consequently the food security is under threat. In fact food prices through out the world have already shooted up for various reasons, the chief among them are near stagnation of productivity of the irrigated soils and water, and diversion of agricultural lands to other uses. Superimposing this phenomenon is the climate change which again forecasts more number of droughts and floods putting the water, food and environmental security under jeopardy.
In view of the above the governments through out the globe are bracing up themselves for impending climate change and making huge investments in the water, food and environmental sectors. In Andhra Pradesh alone the government is spending about 1 lakh crores of rupees for providing irrigation water to ensure food security. Similarly drinking water priorities, industrial water priorities have placed on the top of the agenda due to the kind of the economic growth that is being witnessed, particularly with the countries like India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Russia. More industrialization and urbanization is another challenge to protect the water and land from getting polluted and to ensure optimal environmental safety and security for the populations. On the other hand the growing economic crisis through out the globe may cut short the budgets on green technologies while meeting the MDG’s.
The need of our is to take stock of the present situation arising out of pressures from all the corners to provide water, food and environmental security. It is necessary to have sound scientific and technological deliberations on the subject to identify cost effective, environmental friendly and sustainable technologies.
In this context, the Centre for Water Resources is proposing to organize 3rd International conference on “Hydrology and Watershed Management” (ICHWAM) during February 2010 with a focal theme on “Climate Change – Water, Food and Environmental Security”. The academic year 2009-10 is also coinciding with the silver jubilee year of the Centre for Water Resources, JNT University Hyderabad. This conference is not only a part of ICHWAM series of conferences organized during the year 2002 and 2006 but also a part of silver jubilee celebrations that are dotted through out the academic year 2009-10 with various activities. The conference will be truly of international one with expected delegates of more than 400 from national and international organizations.
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