ABSTRACT
Studies linking food security and trends in water availability are receiving increasing attention in developing countries; the issue has become one of concern to policy analysts and development practitioners alike. Central to that concern is the increasing food grain demand resulting from population increase, coupled with diminishing water resources for food production. There are concerns that in sub-Saharan Africa, high population growth and inadequate agricultural production may combine with increasing water scarcity to pose serious constraints to future economic development (Webb and Iskandarani, 1998). Against a background of drought and uneven spatial distribution of water within Southern Africa, water stress is likely to impede economic development and increase the likelihood of major food access problems and malnutrition in the inevitable drought years (Rosegrant and Ringler, 1999).
