Water for Food

Water is essential for food production and a cornerstone of global food security. Yet, at current levels of performance, agricultural water systems can sustainably feed only 3.4 billion people—far below the 10 billion people projected to inhabit the planet by 2050.

Today, 80% of global agriculture is rainfed, producing 60% of our food—but leaving 500 million smallholder farmers highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall and limited access to inputs and finance. By contrast, irrigated agriculture covers just 20% of farmland yet produces 40% of global food. In water-scarce areas, irrigation typically doubles yields compared to rainfed farming, supporting higher productivity, more diverse crops, steadier incomes, and more jobs. In Sub-Saharan Africa, however, only 6% of farmland is irrigated, far below what’s needed to meet surging food demand.

The pressure on food systems is growing. By 2050, global food demand is expected to rise by more than 70%, driving an urgent need for smarter Agricultural Water Management (AWM) to enable more diverse, high-value food production. At the same time, climate change, urbanization, and industrial growth are intensifying competition for water.

Many countries have expanded irrigation and strengthened institutions, but most AWM systems remain ill-prepared for the challenges ahead. Aging, poorly maintained infrastructure leaves farmers without reliable water through the growing season, while weak accountability and limited customer focus make water delivery reactive rather than responsive. As a result, systems often fail to adapt to local realities or shifting demands.

Institutional weaknesses are compounded by distorted policies and market signals. Irrigation fees are often flat and disconnected from actual water use, providing little incentive for efficiency or conservation. Subsidies rarely align with sustainability, equity, or productivity goals. Too often, farmers are treated as passive recipients of infrastructure rather than as clients or partners.

Yet experience shows that when services are reliable, farmers are willing to pay. Many already do—investing in pumps, boreholes, or buying water at full pumping cost in informal markets to compensate for unreliable canal deliveries.

Expanding irrigation has the potential to transform economies and livelihoods.

In the Sahel, it could generate over 8 million jobs by 2030.

In Bangladesh, scaling up private irrigation pumps has already created more than 3.5 million jobs.

A forthcoming global analysis estimates that converting rainfed cropland with available blue water to irrigation could create 245 million jobs and add $585 billion in value added—218 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, equivalent to four jobs per newly irrigated hectare.

Irrigation can also reduce childhood stunting by up to 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa and boost agricultural GDP by 46%, underscoring its transformative effect on productivity and nutrition.

Agricultural water management (AWM) also reduces pressure on ecosystems. Up to 127 million hectares of rainfed land could be sustainably converted to irrigation, while 125 million hectares of unsustainably irrigated land require reduced water use. Raising productivity on existing farmland, paired with supportive policies, can help curb agricultural expansion into forests and natural habitats.

AWM is also a critical climate solution. Smarter irrigation can cut methane emissions—8% of which come from rice cultivation—while boosting soil carbon storage. Realizing these gains requires better data, sharper incentives, and services tailored to local needs.

The World Bank Group helps countries transform how water is managed in food systems—making it more productive, sustainable, and resilient. Our approach focuses on practical reforms and investments that strengthen institutions, shift incentives, and expand opportunities, especially for smallholder farmers.

A key pillar is farmer-led irrigation development (FLID), a gamechanger for the 84% of the global agricultural workforce made up of smallholders. Many face land tenure insecurity and limited access to finance or knowledge. By creating an enabling environment for them to invest autonomously—through affordable technologies, support services, farmer organizations, and market linkages, FLID empowers smallholders to adopt context-specific solutions that boost productivity and strengthen rural economies. We also help governments transition from directly implementing irrigation projects to enabling FLID, backed by monitoring and other efforts to ensure sustainable sector development.

Improving system performance is another priority. Tools like the Irrigation Operator of the Future Toolkit help operators modernize services, while digital technologies—such as satellite monitoring and AI—improve transparency and accountability. More reliable services encourage farmers to invest in higher-value crops and pay for irrigation, creating a virtuous cycle of productivity and sustainability.

As climate change accelerates, irrigation is becoming central to resilience. Expanding sustainable access helps farmers manage risks, smooth shocks, and reduce dependence on increasingly erratic rainfall, while better water management in crops like rice reduces emissions and enhances soil carbon storage.

Because water alone is not enough, we also support governments in strengthening the broader environment in which farmers operate. This includes supporting soil, seed, and nutrient management, improving enforcement of water allocation rules, and expanding access to inputs, insurance, post-harvest infrastructure, and advisory services.

When paired with reliable water, these services help smallholders move from subsistence to market participation and unlock new pathways out of poverty.

Private sector participation is vital. From irrigation providers and input suppliers to financial institutions and wastewater reuse, private actors can scale solutions that work.

The World Bank Group supports this by de-risking investments, expanding blended finance, and helping governments establish policies and governance that attract capital.

Our goal is to help countries build agricultural water systems that are financially sustainable, farmer-responsive, and climate-ready, laying the foundation for secure, resilient, and equitable food systems in the decades ahead.

Delivering Results Where It Matters Most

Across diverse regions and rising challenges, the World Bank Group is helping countries turn ambition into action. From modernizing irrigation systems to deploying digital tools, our support is delivering measurable improvements in agricultural water management. The examples below show how smarter water solutions are already transforming lives, strengthening food systems, and building resilience on the ground.

Irrigation Revives Farming in Northern Nigeria

In northern Nigeria, where most farmland depends on rainfall, farmers are transforming their livelihoods through irrigation. The Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, led by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and financed by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), has modernized irrigation systems across 43,400 hectares—benefiting over 1.7 million people. In Kano and Jigawa States, farmers are seeing higher yields, better incomes, and improved food security. With support from the Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP), the project also strengthened dam safety and water management. A follow-on initiative aims to scale up these gains as Nigeria targets 500,000 hectares of irrigated land by 2030.

Remote Sensing Tools Transform Irrigation Monitoring in India

India’s agriculture sector, which uses 90% of the country’s water and employs half the labor force, faces mounting pressure from climate change and rising demand. To address this, the World Bank partnered with the Ministry of Jal Shakti to develop two remote sensing tools. These tools assess irrigation scheme performance and crop patterns using satellite data, enabling farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions. The tools are accessible via smartphones and integrated into national GIS platforms. Training for more than 200 officials and field workers helped scale adoption. The initiative also supports broader projects, financed by the World Bank, like the National Hydrology Project and Odisha’s climate-resilient irrigation efforts—laying the groundwork for smarter, more equitable water use across India.

Modern Irrigation and Governance Strengthen Water Resilience in Morocco

In Morocco, the World Bank-supported Resilient and Sustainable Water in Agriculture project is improving water governance in the Chtouka area on the Atlantic coast, helping to foster more sustainable and resilient local agriculture. Population growth, increased irrigation demand, and declining rainfall have led to water shortages and over-exploitation of groundwater. The project combines modernization of irrigation and drainage services with strengthened water governance and agricultural advisory support. Thousands of farmers are being connected to advisory services to help them transition to modern irrigation technologies. Upgrades to hydraulic infrastructure and improved irrigation performance are not only benefiting farmers but also enhancing drought resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Modernizing Irrigation in Indonesia

The Strategic Irrigation Modernization and Urgent Rehabilitation Project has benefited over 380,000 farmers in 10 provinces. With 46 percent of irrigation systems classified as “in poor condition,” the project is rehabilitating over 250,000 hectares of irrigation and drainage systems. These efforts are raising the incomes of poor Indonesians, more than 3.1 million of whom rely on agriculture to support their families. Climate-smart practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying, organic pesticides, and climate-resilient seeds are changing the face of farming and helping farmers produce low-carbon rice.

Farmer-led Irrigation Development (FLID) is the process where farmers, alone or as a collective, take the lead in the establishment, improvement, or expansion of irrigated agriculture. Characteristically, farmers who autonomously develop irrigation are entrepreneurial innovators, targeting new markets and investing their own resources.

They develop technologies, make investments, and create market linkages. These farmers experience quick returns on their efforts, often against all odds. However, many more farmers could benefit from improved agricultural water use practices. Many smallholder farmers remain constrained by unfavorable conditions that slow their growth. They face hurdles which elevate risks and increase both financial and transaction costs.