SWA Water Efficiency on the Farm

Water conservation and efficiency plays a key role in agricultural risk management and drought preparedness. Conserving Saskatchewan’s water resource will be an important part of ensuring the sustainability of the agricultural industry into the future. Worldwide, an increasing number of countries are now considered to be “water scarce”, meaning that they no longer have the water necessary to grow their own food. This provides Saskatchewan with both a warning and an opportunity. With responsible use of our water we can continue to prosper and grow economically, taking advantage of the opportunity to increase our exports to these countries that no longer have the capacity to grow their own food. Economically, our province is growing, and with this growth comes an increased demand on water supplies. There will be increasing pressure on all sectors to prove efficient use of this precious resource. By implementing water conservation and efficiency practices, producers can ensure that their operations are sustainable. Responsible water management also has the ability to effectively increase production, which will benefit us with increased income while expanding the opportunity for increased output in all sectors. We must realize that our water, although perceived as abundant, is a finite resource and that the more we conserve it today the better off we will be tomorrow. Adopting new management practices provides an opportunity for increased quality of life, economically and environmentally.