A new and disturbing study recently published in the journal Earth's Future, predicts that by 2050 the amount of water available for agriculture will decrease by about 80% if the rate of water consumption and world population growth remain at their current usage trends.
In the study, in which scientists from all the science agencies in the world participated, the scientists summarized the total amount of rainwater, rivers and freshwater sources in the world and compared it to the need of mankind in agriculture.
Homeless people face heat wave in India, Photo: AFP
The dismal research conclusions show that currently the rate of water consumption has doubled over the last 10 years, while global warming is causing the amount of rainfall in agricultural areas around the world to decrease.
According to the study data, 84% of the land designated for agriculture in the world will experience a severe shortage of rainwater.
One of the main conclusions of the study is calling on farmers around the world to adapt agriculture to climate change and the seasons, and move to growing methods that will make it easier for water to penetrate the soil to prevent the water evaporation process leading to extensive rainwater waste.
Researchers also recommend that farmers working near saltwater sources use rainwater collection technologies to prevent them from flowing into the sea.
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