The Challenges of Irrigated Agriculture to Achieve Food Security in Malaysia ¹

The theme for the 4th World Irrigation Forum was a question: ‘Is Irrigation a Sunset Industry’. The answer to that question was a resounding ‘No’ as irrigation is one of the main drivers for food security and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, irrigated agriculture is the largest user of freshwater, presently consuming some 72% of the total global withdrawal. With the world's population projected to grow from 8.2 billion to 8.9 billion by 2035, there will be greater competition for water from municipal use, industry and food production. In most countries, water for food production generally has the lowest priority. This paper will look at how the challenges faced by irrigated agriculture can be overcome through innovative policies, improved standards of service delivery and new financing mechanisms with special emphasis on Malaysia's journey to achieve food security.