Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) adopted the Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture.

About

• The declaration was launched on the occasion of the High-level Rome Water Dialogue, taking place on the sidelines of FAO’s annual World Food Forum (WFF).
• The Declaration was aimed at addressing water scarcity increasingly exacerbated by the climate crisis.
• The WASAG initiative was launched at the United Nations Climate Conference in Marrakesh in 2016 to support countries in addressing water scarcity challenges.

What is Family Farming?

• Family farming refers to agricultural activities that are managed and operated by families, relying primarily on family labor.
• It encompasses all family-based agricultural activities, including crops, forestry, fisheries, and pastoralism.

Significance of Family farming

• Family farming, with over 550 million farms worldwide, is the backbone of food production, accounting for over 90 per cent of all farms,
• It produces 70 to 80 percent of the world’s food in value terms.
• Family farmers, especially in low- and middle-income countries, grow diverse, nutritious food, support crop biodiversity and manage natural resources responsibly.
• The United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) 2019-2028 was adopted on December 20, 2017 by the UN General Assembly unanimously and supported by 104 countries.

Challenges Faced by Family Farming

• Climate Change: It is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather patterns, which affect crop yields and food production.
• Access to Resources: The small family farms face limited access to land, water, financial services, technology, and markets, impeding their ability to increase productivity and income.
• Policy and Institutional Support: In many regions, family farmers receive insufficient government support in terms of subsidies, infrastructure, and favorable policies that could help them compete in larger markets.

Way Ahead

• Promoting climate-smart agricultural practices is essential to help family farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Engaging the younger generation in farming through education, skill development, and financial incentives will help ensure the continuity of family farming.