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Statement on World Water Day
Youth Agrarian Society
March 22, 2012

Youth Agrarian Society joins the world in commemorating this year's World Water Day under the theme "Water and Food security". A day that presents an opportunity for a global call to reflect on the importance of water to human life and the need to utilise it in a sustainable manner. This year's theme focuses on the linkage that exists between water and food security since large quantities of water are needed to produce food. Food security exists when all people at all times have both physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary requirements for an active and healthy life.

In Zimbabwe this year's commemorations come at a time when the government is facing challenges to ensure access to safe and sufficient water to its citizens as evidenced by the increasing cases of cholera and typhoid that have been reported.

Several factors have contributed to the depletion of water resources and these include climate change, increasing demand for food, increasing competition for water and degrading water and land resources. As Youth Agrarian Society we believe the following will ensure a sustainable access to sufficient and safe water for all:

1. The realisation of the human right to water in the context of the right to food, since access to safe and sufficient water is a human right under international law.

2. Production of more food using less water (sustainable intensification) through improving water use efficiency, to address the increasing demand for food, as a result of increasing population and urbanisation.

3. Adapting water management policies and practices to climate change including pro active drought and flood management strategies.

4. Protection of water resources including conserving the ecosystem that sustain their availability and their quality.

5. Re-using and recycling drainage water and treated waste water can be used in agriculture.

Visit the Youth Agrarian Society fact sheet

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