This paper analyzes how water resources development and water policy reform can be
deployed to address the twin problems of food insecurity and water scarcity in Africa and, in
particular, Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper reviews the current status of water supply and
demand, and the existing and potential irrigated land base in Africa; reviews the performance
of existing irrigation systems and assesses the magnitude of the potential contribution and
cost-effectiveness of new irrigation development to future food production in Africa; and
explores the potential for water conservation through demand management. Meeting the
challenges of food security and water scarcity in Africa will require both selective
development and exploitation of new water supplies and comprehensive policy reform that
encourages efficient use of existing supplies. The most significant reforms will involve
changing the institutional and legal environment in which water is supplied to one that
empowers water users to make their own decisions regarding the resource. Irrigation
development will not be the main source of food production growth in Africa, but increased
investment in irrigation could have an important role in reducing projected cereal import
demands. Rehabilitation and improvement of existing irrigation systems can be an attractive
option, but projects must be selected carefully.