Antananarivo, May 28 – Access to water is becoming increasingly difficult: a major challenge faced by farmers, yet solutions still exist
In the context of the climate change we are currently experiencing, one of the major challenges faced by farmers is the increasing difficulty of accessing water for agriculture. In many regions, groundwater levels are decreasing, rainfall seasons are changing, and water supply for farming is becoming more and more difficult.
One member shared her daily experience:
“Before, when we dug about 2 meters deep, we could already find water. But now, we have to dig much deeper, up to 4 meters or more, before finding enough water for irrigation.”
This clearly shows how the environment is changing and how access to water is becoming more difficult. When water is insufficient, agriculture is directly affected: crop yields decrease, the soil dries out, and farmers struggle to maintain their crops.
Despite these challenges, farmers continue to stand strong and search for solutions. Many of them are already applying agroecological practices and water management techniques to ensure that farming activities can continue and remain productive.
One of the solutions being used is mulching (soil covering) with dry grass, leaves, or other natural materials. This helps retain soil moisture, reduces dryness, and protects water from evaporating quickly under the heat of the sun.
Farmers are also organizing irrigation schedules, especially in the evening. Watering crops in the evening allows water to remain longer in the soil because it is not rapidly evaporated by daytime heat. This benefits the crops while also saving water.
In addition, farmers are using rainwater harvesting techniques, building small drainage systems to retain water in fields, applying organic fertilizers to improve soil structure and increase water retention, and choosing drought-resistant crops.
These techniques prove that even though access to water is becoming increasingly difficult due to climate change, practical local solutions still exist. Combining traditional knowledge with agroecological techniques helps farmers face these challenges and protect agricultural production.
Supporting farmers in these efforts is essential, because it is not only agricultural production that is being protected, but also the livelihoods of families and the future of the next generations.
