Water is a vital resource used for practically everything from industrial and agricultural production to domestic household uses. Although water covers about 70% of the earth’s surface, only a little percentage of it is available for supply as water is highly heterogenous (Oki & Quiocho, 2020). Water scarcity refers to the absence of enough freshwater resources required to meet water demand. It is largely attributed to the results of the structural distribution of population growth in relation to accessible water resources (Oki & Quiocho, 2020). As the population grows, so does the need for water leading to water stress. Water scarcity has been attributed to the systematic variance of precipitation across the world over the last few decades (Oki & Quiocho, 2020). The changes in hydrological patterns have resulted in water shortages which have further been worsened by the poor planning infrastructure of harvesting and managing water supplies.
Food security is heavily dependent on water security. The overexploitation of water resources resulting in water scarcity threatens regional food security and the overall health of human beings. Agricultural production accounts for 90% of global freshwater consumptive use, while about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals are attributed to it, making it the sector more sensitive to water scarcity (FAO, 2012). As the changes in hydrological patterns persist, irrigation is used to remedy the effects of climate change in the sector that induce water scarcity. However, the issue of population growth also affects food security. A growing population results in increased food demands (FAO, 2012). Due to the issue of water scarcity, crop yield and productivity are significantly affected. The agricultural sector thus becomes unable to provide for the population leading to food insecurity in the region.
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The issue of water scarcity affects regional food security. I have been affected by the issue as food insecurity hinders easy access to fresh and healthy foods. Water scarcity makes farmers struggle to plant, sustain and harvest their crops. This, in turn, affects how they price their products to wholesalers. Farmers ask for more prices for their produce, and the retailers also charge more ( Pinard et al., 2013 ). This makes organic food prices rise as compared to that of processed food. Being diabetic, it is advisable to stay away from processed foods as they contain unhealthy sugars that are bad for my health. However, although I prefer eating fresh fruits and vegetables, I am sometimes forced to weigh my options between fresh produce and processed foods due to the cost. There are also other times when these organic foods are out of stock, and I have no option but to purchase the proceed foods, which are an unhealthy option for me.
Water scarcity and food insecurity have also been credited with having serious impacts on the population’s health. Food insecurity is linked to some of the most costly and common health problems and behaviors ( Pinard et al., 2013 ). The food system comprises many interrelated factors involved in getting food from the farms to the consumer. Water scarcity impacts this system by limiting the availability of fresh food needed to meet the nutritional and health needs of the American population. To counter this issue, inexpensive energy-dense processed foods have been marketed to meet the population’s needs ( Pinard et al., 2013 ). These foods are made from artificial substances and refined ingredients, and their constant consumption has led to the development of negative health outcomes.
The increased access to processed foods has promoted the prevalence of obesity and diabetes type 2 in the American population. In a study conducted on 12 states to find the relation between food insecurity and obesity, results showed that of the sample, 32% of food-insecure adults were likely to be obese ( Pan et al., 2012 ). These results are consistent with previous research on the issue where food insecurity has been identifying as a leading cause of obesity in the population. With obesity comes other negative consequences such as increased prevalence to type 2 diabetes, as studies show that obesity is the chief risk factor to the disease ( Barnes, 2011 ). These problems are attributed to water scarcity and food insecurity, thus the dire need to remedy water scarcity to alleviate food security in the region.
References
Barnes, A. S. (2011). The epidemic of obesity and diabetes: trends and treatments. Texas Heart Institute Journal , 38 (2), 142. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3066828/
FAO. (2012). Coping with water scarcity, An action framework for agriculture and food security. http://www.fao.org/3/i3015e/i3015e.pdf
Oki, T., & Quiocho, R. E. (2020). Economically challenged and water scarce: identification of global populations most vulnerable to water crises. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36(2-3), 416-428. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07900627.2019.1698413
Pan, L., Sherry, B., Njai, R., & Blanck, H. M. (2012). Food insecurity is associated with obesity among US adults in 12 states. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , 112 (9), 1403-1409. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584410/
Pinard, C. A., Kim, S. A., Story, M., & Yaroch, A. L. (2013). The food and water system: impacts on obesity. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , 41 (s2), 52-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554485/
