Welcome

As human beings, we all have the same two basic necessities in life; food and water. Whilst water is a readily available natural resource on Earth, food, in terms of livestock and crops need water to facilitate their growth. However, the abundance of freshwater varies spatially and temporally. Some areas can access and harness water more easily than others. Several factors are responsible for this variation, including climate (in terms of rainfall and evaporation), geology, and topography (Taylor 2004). Not only do physical features influence the distribution of water, but human modifications including presence of infrastructure, such as wells and pipelines, also determine the level of availability and accessibility to water. This blog will explore the connections between water and food in Africa and investigate the implications of a highly variable water supply on agriculture and food security.