Water

Irrigation and Wells

Improvements to irrigation systems are necessary for alleviating the problem, helping protect the population from famine and hunger by making sure agricultural development expands. Agricultural growth is essential in economic development, especially in countries such as Pakistan, India, and those of sub-Saharan Africa. These problems reflect directly on water issues in terms of health and scarcity. By modernizing infrastructure and providing access to all communities, governments are ensuring that their people have the ability to reach a substantial supply of quality water.

Having the proper water resources can boost the economic development and increase the purchasing power of the poor. Expanding farms provide more employment opportunities for any village throughout the developing world. Canal irrigation is a key contributor to poverty alleviation because many villages in the same district can utilize one source of water for farming. Tube-well technologies have also improved the quality of life in eastern India and Bangladesh. This system is publicly financed and is run by command areas that reach out to many villages.

However, as these systems expanded, they began to favor only the elite or those who could afford them. Small farmers and the poor have had to depend on [Page 1157]other water markets and treadle pumps. Using treadle pumps does not require as much funding as is needed for tube-well systems, so farmers with less than an acre of land can use water efficiently. Treadle pumps, on average, require only one investment of $18 and the only real task after installation is management of the pumps. A sufficient water supply is necessary for hydropower; therefore industry and energy are taking a hit. Developing countries need energy to boost their standard of living. Energy resources allow a country to develop and to expand, including surrounding nations and territories.

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