Rethinking irrigation

Agriculture is the largest global consumer of water, accounting for an average of 70% of freshwater drawn from lakes, rivers and aquifers around the world. The sector places immense stress on water resources, threatening long term water resource management, which is critical for the health of communities, the environment and economies worldwide.

“With growing pressure on water resources, improving water use efficiency in agriculture is no longer optional but essential,” said Mohammad Zaman, Head of the IAEA’s Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section. “Science based solutions help farmers use every drop wisely while maintaining productivity and sustainability.”

Innovations in nuclear science and related technologies are enabling farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices that save water, boost crop yields and build resilience to climate change.

The IAEA, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture (Joint Centre), provides farmers in water-scarce areas with tools and guidance for smarter irrigation. This enables them to assess the availability of water as well as its movement in soil and uptake by crops, so that they can use it more efficiently.

Supporting efficient irrigation practices

Water, which is composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, contains naturally occurring isotopes (atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons) that are easily traceable. Oxygen isotope-based techniques help scientists understand how plants use water. By analysing the isotopes in water found in soil and within plants, researchers can determine which water sources plants rely on, how much water they use, how much is lost to evaporation and how much percolates into the soil. Understanding these processes allows experts to recommend better irrigation schedules, suitable crop types and improved farming practices to conserve water and increase yields. This type of information is especially useful in areas facing drought or water scarcity.

Climate-smart agriculture techniques help farmers optimize water use and improve soil conditions, ensuring sustainable agricultural production. The IAEA’s technical cooperation programme has been supporting the adoption of climate-smart agricultural techniques in water-stressed countries in Africa and Asia, including Sudan and Namibia.

Drip irrigation for water conservation in Sudan

Climate change is making weather patterns in Sudan erratic, with dry seasons and unpredictable rainfall causing water shortages, crop failures and food insecurity.

The IAEA has helped hundreds of women farmers in Sudan’s Kassala region to grow more food with less water using improved drip irrigation systems, through a pilot initiative under the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme. These systems are low cost, easy to install, simple to operate and deliver water directly to plants’ roots, minimizing waste. They have enabled Sudanese farmers to reduce water use by up to 70% while boosting crop yields by over 40%. “Thanks to this project, we have seen measurable improvements in water use efficiency,” said Ahmed Babiker Khalifa, a water management specialist at Sudan’s Agricultural Research Corporation. “Integrating drip irrigation with data from nuclear techniques helps us apply just the right amount of water — a practical solution for farming in water-scarce regions.”

The success has inspired broader adoption of the technology in Sudan and beyond, empowered women and helped communities adapt to climate challenges while increasing food security.

Improving harvests in Namibia with cosmic ray neutron sensors

Namibia is one of Africa’s driest countries, with 92% of its land classified as arid or semi-arid. In recent years, Namibia has experienced erratic rainfall, floods and severe droughts due to climate change, contributing to serious food shortages.

Since 2020, the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Joint Centre, have been training farmers in northern Namibia to water their fields more efficiently. The farmers are using information derived from a combination of nuclear techniques such as cosmic ray neutron sensors and water-saving irrigation technologies including drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting.

With real-time data on soil moisture collected by cosmic ray neutron sensors and related techniques, farmers can assess available water in the soil. The drip irrigation system helps them to apply precise amounts of water based on plant need.

An IAEA technical cooperation project has enabled farmers to leverage these technologies to reduce water use by 80%. Yields of crops like maize, tomatoes and peppers have also grown by up to 70%.

“Integrating nuclear techniques with smart irrigation practices could revolutionize farmer support,” said Maliata Athon Wanga, an agricultural scientific officer in Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform. “Cosmic ray neutron sensors enable data-driven decisions that directly improve water use efficiency, enhancing food security and climate resilience in our communities."