The FAO launches WaPOR, an innovative global tool for water management and agriculture
The FAO has launched the latest version of its innovative water management tool called WaPOR, expanding its geographic coverage to a global scale. This innovation provides users with near-real-time satellite data to monitor actual water usage in agricultural fields and its added economic value. WaPOR is particularly valuable for countries facing water scarcity as it allows for the monitoring of water productivity and identifying productivity gaps.
The WaPOR tool can significantly contribute by providing evidence-based data to improve agricultural optimization and yields.
According to Lifeng LI, Director of the FAO’s Land and Water Division, this new version uses a broader range of satellite data and adapts to cutting-edge sensor technologies, enhancing assessment accuracy.
Furthermore, it measures evapotranspiration, a key step in the water cycle, and provides information on the amount of biomass produced per cubic meter of water consumed, enabling the calculation of crop water productivity.
This platform also offers crucial insights into the marginal cost and added value of water use, which can help planning authorities and stakeholders, including small farmers, make more informed decisions without necessarily reducing water consumption.
The geospatial data from WaPOR are complemented by empirical fieldwork. For instance, if the data show differences in water productivity between farms, field visits can be conducted to determine if specific farming practices account for these variations.
It is important to note that leading institutions such as the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, and other financial mechanisms use WaPOR in some of their initiatives, highlighting the tool’s significance for sustainable water resource management on a global scale.
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Neil Camara
