Irrigation is the predominant form of water use in agriculture and a major source of inefficiency, as many farmers still rely on traditional irrigation techniques such as surface or sprinkler irrigation, rather than more efficient systems such as drip or subsurface irrigation.13 Widespread traditional irrigation leads to significant water wastage, reaching up to 10 gallons per minute per acre (93.5 litres per minute per hectare), compared to 3-7 gallons per minute per acre (28-65 litres per minute per hectare) for alternative techniques like drip irrigation.14 In many developing regions, access to modern irrigation systems remains limited due to underinvestment in water infrastructure. Even in areas where such solutions are available, adoption remains limited and many irrigation systems are outdated and poorly maintained, resulting in water loss due to evaporation, runoff and seepage. Inefficiencies in irrigation can drive long-term degradation as well. For example, overextraction of groundwater for irrigation during prolonged drought has caused over 2,200 sinkholes across farmlands in Turkey’s Konya Basin.15Municipalities AgricultureWater withdrawal ratios by continent Industries69% 21%51%60%81% 82%19% 57%34% 15%10%5%12% 22%15% 25%9%13% 0% World Europe Americas Oceania Asia Africa10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Global water withdrawals are primarily driven by agricultural demand FIGURE 2 Source: FAO (2021).12Agriculture stands out as the primary driver of global water stress across most continents (see Figure 2), accounting for approximately 70% of global water withdrawals from rivers, lakes and aquifers.11 For this reason, improving water management in agriculture is essential to ensuring long-run food security and addressing water scarcity. Approximately 60% of the water used in agriculture is wasted because of inefficiencies in irrigation systems and infrastructure, resulting in waterlogging and salinization, which have diminished the productivity of nearly 50% of the globe’s irrigated areas.16 Food and Agriculture Organization Harnessing Digital Technologies for Smarter Water Management in Agriculture 7

Harnessing Digital Technologies for Smarter Water Management in Agriculture 2025