ABSTRACT
Abstract The expansion of irrigation in recent decades has coincided with the growing perception that renewable water resources of the world are finite. Irrigated agriculture is under intense scrutiny as one of the largest consumers of water. The social aspects of irrigation are discussed first, with emphasis on the issues most relevant to irrigation in Southern Spain. The public concerns about water quality deterioration and the impact of irrigation on the environment are also covered. The general theme is that, on the one hand, irrigation can no longer overlook the intense competition for water and the disruptive effects it produces on the environment. On the other hand, there should be incentives for water conservation in irrigation to sustain irrigated agriculture as a strategic sector in world food production. Keywords: irrigation, social issues, environment, water conservation.
