Virtual water transfers in Africa: Assessing topical condition of water scarcity, water savings, and policy implications

Hirwa, Hubert; Peng, Yu; Zhang, Qiuying; Qiao, Yunfeng; Leng, Peifang; Tian, Chao; Yang, Guang; Muhirwa, Fabien; Diop, Salif; Kayiranga, Alphonse; Li, Fadong; Chen, Gang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155343

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Virtual water trade can promote economic ties between regions because the importation of virtual water will depend on the water resource endowment of export regions. With increasingly greater implementation of the virtual water strategy, each region becomes increasingly dependent on water resources in other regions [ 91 , 92 ]. Virtual water net import is obviously affected by water resource endowment, and regions with good water resource conditions tend to export virtual water to other regions [ 30 , 85 ]; this is also in line with the theory of comparative advantage in trade.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Water Flow Pattern in the Yellow River Basin, China: An Analysis Based on a Multiregional Input–Output Model

Liu

Xiong

Guo³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Research on the Yellow River Basin’s virtual water is not only beneficial for rational water resource regulation and allocation, but it is also a crucial means of relieving the pressures of a shortage of water resources. The water stress index and pull coefficient have been introduced to calculate the implied virtual water from intraregional and interregional trade in the Yellow River Basin on the basis of a multi-regional input–output model; a systematic study of virtual water flow has been conducted. The analysis illustrated that: (1) Agriculture is the leading sector in terms of virtual water input and output among all provinces in the Yellow River Basin, which explains the high usage. Therefore, it is important to note that the agricultural sector needs to improve its water efficiency. In addition to agriculture, virtual water is mainly exported through supply companies in the upper reaches; the middle reaches mainly output services and the transportation industry, and the lower reaches mainly output to the manufacturing industry. Significant differences exist in the pull coefficients of the same sectors in different provinces (regions). The average pull coefficients of the manufacturing, mining, and construction industries are large, so it is necessary to formulate stricter water use policies. (2) The whole basin is in a state of virtual net water input, that is, throughout the region. The Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Qinghai Provinces, which are relatively short of water, import virtual water to relieve local water pressures. However, in the Gansu Province and the Ningxia Autonomous Region, where water resources are not abundant, continuous virtual water output will exacerbate the local resource shortage. (3) The Yellow River Basin’s virtual water resources have obvious geographical distribution characteristics. The cross-provincial trade volume in the downstream area is high; the virtual water trade volume in the upstream area is low, as it is in the midstream and downstream areas; the trade relationship is insufficient. The Henan and Shandong Provinces are located in the dominant flow direction of Yellow River Basin’s virtual water, while Gansu and Inner Mongolia are at the major water sources. Trade exchanges between the midstream and downstream and the upstream should be strengthened. Therefore, the utilization of water resources should be planned nationwide to reduce water pressures, and policymakers should improve the performance of agricultural water use within the Yellow River Basin and change the main trade industries according to the resource advantages and water resources situation of each of them.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Water Flow Pattern in the Yellow River Basin, China: An Analysis Based on a Multiregional Input–Output Model

Liu

Xiong

Guo³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…In the context of SSA, the virtual water concept holds significant relevance as the region heavily relies on agriculture. Virtual water will help provide insights into water-intensive agricultural practices, food security, and sustainable water resource management [188]. The results of a study that sought to understand food trade systems in two West African cities indicate that virtual water flows were largest in grains and cereals [189].…”

Section: Virtual Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Visions and Options for Sub-Saharan Africa

George-Williams,

Hunt,

Rogers

2024

Sustainability

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Developing a sustainable water infrastructure entails the planning and management of water systems to ensure the availability, access, quality, and affordability of water resources in the face of social, environmental, and economic challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is currently in an era where it must make significant changes to improve the sustainability of its water infrastructure. This paper reviews the factors affecting water infrastructure sustainability and the interventions taken globally to address these challenges. In parallel, it reflects on the relevance of these interventions to the context of Sub-Saharan Africa through the lens of the STEEP (societal, technological, economic, environmental, political) framework. The paper goes on to recommend an extended analysis that captures additional critical dimensions when applying the concept of sustainability. Furthermore, this paper sheds light on the practice of sustainable development and fosters a deeper understanding of the issues, thereby forming the basis for further research and the development of sustainable and resilient solutions for water infrastructure and water asset management more generally.

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“…There is already considerable concern in Africa about the trade in virtual water, which plays a key role in the management of water resources and the sustainability of food security in the region. Given the growing tensions over virtual water imports, some African countries are currently reviewing international agricultural trade policies and water conservation policies [8]. The purpose of such actions is to promote a more balanced ecosystem and to avoid the food security crisis as much as possible.…”

Section: Literature Review and Problem Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The theoretical information described above, based on the results of the study of sources [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], gives reason to recognize that there are unresolved issues related to the assessment of the stability of the systemic development of the territory over time, taking into account water intensity. The lack of such knowledge makes it impossible to take informed decisions regarding the prospects for the development of state territories.…”

Section: Literature Review and Problem Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining the impact of virtual water scarcity risk on the global food crisis 2022 as a result of hostilities

Fedulova

Zadoia

Shkura

et al. 2023

EEJET

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The object of this study is the process that forms conceptual foundations for managing the impact of virtual water deficiency risks on the global food crisis. The main idea of the study focuses on determining the consequences of the global food crisis in the world under the influence of a significant reduction in virtual water exports from Ukraine to agri-food markets. It is determined that most likely, in the context of the replacement of Ukrainian exports of grain and agricultural products as a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine, the countries of the world will resort to new ways of obtaining effective imports of virtual water from other countries. The study proved that rapid structural changes in the economies of the countries of the world and the reorientation of their national economies towards the development of the agricultural sector under modern conditions of global uncertainty would inevitably lead to certain consequences. Namely, either to the fall in the growth rate of national economies, or to the state of the "bifurcation explosion" with the subsequent dispersion of possible states of development. The proposed scientific and methodological approach to assessing the sustainability of the systemic development of the territory over time for water-intensive regions makes it possible to take calculated decisions at the national level regarding the scale and prospects for the development of economic activities in the state. The described theoretical and methodological foundations of the interdependence of water and food security and the developed fundamental provisions of the economies of countries under the conditions of the global food crisis and the risk of a shortage of virtual water will create the following opportunities. Specifically, they enable state authorities to assess the depth of the specified crisis in the world and its consequences for all countries in 2022–2023. Such an understanding creates the conditions for making effective decisions on the volume of import of virtual water in a particular country

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Virtual water transfers in Africa: Assessing topical condition of water scarcity, water savings, and policy implications

Cited by 17 publications

References 81 publications

Virtual Water Flow Pattern in the Yellow River Basin, China: An Analysis Based on a Multiregional Input–Output Model

Virtual Water Flow Pattern in the Yellow River Basin, China: An Analysis Based on a Multiregional Input–Output Model

Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Visions and Options for Sub-Saharan Africa

Determining the impact of virtual water scarcity risk on the global food crisis 2022 as a result of hostilities

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