Specialists and entrepreneurs attending the International Water Saving Exhibition in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region called for enhanced cooperation on irrigation water conservation so as to address the impending water shortage crisis on May 30.

It is noted on the forum that the water shortage issue has affected 40 percent of the world’s population and the ratio is expected to rise to 67 percent by 2050 and the major cause is over-usage of water in agriculture.

“Promoting water-saving irrigation technologies globally, especially in arid areas, is the issue faced by all of us,” said Zhai Haohui, the director of China Agricultural Water Saving and Rural Area Water Supply Technology Association.

Over the past years, Ningxia has promoted water saving irrigation technologies and has saved 30% to 60% of water accordingly, with the highly efficient irrigation area accounting for 25% of the total amount, said Wu Hongxiang, the director of Ningxia Water Conservancy Department.

A manager from Israel said that cooperation on water saving irrigation concepts and technologies should be enhanced among different nations. Specialists at the forum also expressed that technological cooperation would certainly accelerate the application process.