By Faridat Salifu
Growing water scarcity is emerging as a major threat to Africa’s food security and economic development, with an agricultural economist calling for stronger water governance and climate-resilient investments to protect vulnerable communities and farming systems.
Professor Djiby Thiam made the call while delivering his inaugural lecture, “The Economics of Water and Climate Resilience: Lessons Learned from African Experiences,” on July 30.
He warned that water stress is disproportionately affecting poor and vulnerable populations, noting that about 10 per cent of the world’s population lives in countries facing critical or high levels of water scarcity.
According to Thiam, global drought impacts could affect three out of every four people by 2050, while annual economic losses from drought have already exceeded US$307 billion.
He said tackling the crisis requires a combination of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, including investments in sustainable water management and systems that help communities cope with changing weather patterns.
Thiam identified index-based weather insurance as a practical tool for reducing climate risks faced by farmers, explaining that payouts are triggered by weather indicators such as rainfall, temperature and river levels rather than measured crop losses.
Drawing from research among farming households in northern Nigeria, he said uptake of weather insurance remains low because many farmers cannot afford existing premiums, highlighting the need for innovative financing mechanisms and stronger extension services.
He also advocated wider adoption of climate-smart water conservation practices, including drip and sprinkler irrigation, mulching, conservation tillage, cover cropping, intercropping and drought-tolerant crop varieties to improve water-use efficiency.
The professor said research in South Africa showed that financial incentives could encourage farmers to adopt practices that reduce agricultural pollution of water bodies, contributing to improved environmental sustainability.
He further warned that weak institutions and corruption undermine water security, worsen poverty and reduce access to safe water and sanitation.
Thiam also called for policies that strengthen women’s participation in household decision-making, saying greater gender equality can improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
He cautioned that the rapid expansion of data centres worldwide could place additional pressure on freshwater resources because of the significant volumes of water required for cooling and facility operations.
Thiam urged governments to adopt integrated water governance policies that balance economic development, environmental sustainability and climate resilience to secure Africa’s water future.
