Despite the fact that Abu Dhabi is a desert nation, the amount of water consumption per head remains high above many countries. Even so, available water resources have failed to meet the demand for water consumption. The presence of surface water sources is almost negligible and the country mostly relies on underground and desalinated water. It is often said that water is life and the relative scarcity of water in desert areas of Abu Dhabi such as Al Gharbia presents significant business opportunities. The main sources of water in the Abu Dhabi Emirates are the Al Ain and the Liwa oasis. In particular the Liwa oasis has been a significant source of water for drinking and agricultural purposes and the decline in this source is a matter of great concern.
Although agriculture is not a predominant economic activity in Abu Dhabi, the small amount of agriculture done goes a long extent in meeting the food requirement of its citizens. The reduction of water resource in areas such as the Liwa oasis has significantly affected food prices. Thus the decline in water available for irrigation purposes had contributed to decreased agricultural output thus high food prices. The supply of food items in the market does not meet the increasing demand resulting from the growing population.
The most important step in increasing the water supply base of the region is to comprehend the current and possible future availability of water resources and assess the demand situation. It is therefore important to obtain a fully integrated data set on all the relevant matters that determine the balance between resource and demand. This offers a business opportunity for quantity of resource surveyors. These professionals can rely on the ever increasing per head consumption of water to identify new sources of water. These new water sources can then be exploited to ensure continuity in the provision of clean and safe water for people and agricultural purposes.
The diminishing levels of water in the Liwa oasis automatically presents an opportunity for resource exploration companies to identify and exploit potential water resources. Water consists of approximately seventy five percent of the earth. In spite of being a desert region Al Gharbia may contain more underground water reservoirs than actually known. By engaging the service of specialized exploration companies, more water areas may actually be exploited and put into effective use in meeting the water requirements of the area.
Water is a resource that directly contributes to the amount of agricultural production in any nation. The diminishing level of water in Liwa oasis implies that agricultural production has been on a downward trend over recent years. This presents an opportunity for farmers in the area to increase the efficiency of their production techniques so that they may cash in on the reduced supply of food and agricultural raw materials. It has been observed that farmers who get relatively high agricultural output during a poor season make considerably high profit despite a general decline in the overall productivity by all farmers.
The non-existence of a sound system of control that can be used to monitor the quantity of irrigation water consumed by individual farms is an issue of concern. This is due to the fact that crops of different types require varying amounts of water to grow properly. Consequently, agricultural produce in the area has been particularly affected. This avails an opportunity for research companies and institutions to examine and determine which crops are particularly proper in meeting the agricultural requirements of the area. This can go a long way in ensuring conservation of the Liwa oasis.
In summation, water is a vital resource in agriculture. The diminishing level of water in the Liwa oasis has negatively affected the agricultural productivity of farmers in the region. However, this trend has also presented tremendous opportunities for business. A number of measures can be taken to manage this situation but opportunities that come with it should also be exploited simultaneously.
Works Cited
Mohamed, Abdel-Mohsen O. Reclaiming the Desert: Towards a Sustainable Environment in Arid Lands : Proceedings of the Third Joint Uae-Japan Symposium on Sustainable Gcc Environment and Water Resources (ewr2006), 30 January - 1 February 2006, Al Ain Abu Dhabi, Uae. London: Taylor & Francis, 2007. Print.
Shahid, Shabbir A, Mahmoud A. Abdelfattah, and Faisal K. Taha. Developments in Soil Salinity Assessment and Reclamation: Innovative Thinking and Use of Marginal Soil and Water Resources in Irrigated Agriculture. Dordrecht: Springer, 2013. Print.
Urban Growth in Arid Environments : Developing Water Sustainability Indicators for Abu Dhabi (uae). AST Management, 2013. Print.
