Water Policy Brief

Abstract

Key findings • Water storage should be just one component of a multipronged approach to adapting agriculture to climate change. • In adapting to climate change, careful attention must be given to the full continuum of physical water storage from groundwater, through soil moisture, small tanks and ponds to small and large reservoirs. • Appropriate water storage for agriculture can contribute to both poverty alleviation and climate change adaptation. Water storage has a vital role to play in improving global food security and building resilience for adaptation to climate change. A wide range of storage options are available, each with strengths and weaknesses. Because of the uncertainty associated with climate change, planners need to focus on flexibility in storage systems and give careful consideration to the sustainability, effectiveness and suitability of different storage types.