Virtual Water Trade in the State of Kuwait: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

Like the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries which are located in an arid region, the State of Kuwait faces difficulty in providing food security for its population locally. This is due to the limited natural water resources and its quality deterioration, limited and declining arable land, and rapid increase of population. Therefore, food importation has become a necessity and essential to meet local requirements. Under these conditions and constraints and with the limited water resources, it is necessary to apply the concept of virtual water to formulate agricultural strategies and to contribute to water resources conservation. This research aimed at calculating the flow of virtual water in Kuwait and the rest of GCC countries. The results indicated that during the period 2000- 2006, Kuwait imported an annual average equivalent to 258 million cubic meter (Mm3) of virtual water from the GCC countries. This quantity represents 24.5% of the total water resources of Kuwait (estimated at 1.055 billion m3 of conventional and non-conventional water resources), of which the agricultural sector consumes about 422 Mm3 (40%). On the other hand, Kuwait exports very limited quantities of virtual water to the GCC countries. The research showed that the deficit in the trade balance in fruits, vegetables, grain crops are 59.8, 35.1, 39.0 tons, respectively, with fruits and vegetables accounts for the largest proportion of this virtual water estimated at 94.9 Mm3 (78%). Moreover, the water content of the imports of various items of meat products, poultry products and dairy products is estimated at 158 Mm3 representing about 61% of the total water content of incoming goods to Kuwait from the GCC countries. Although virtual water imports may alleviate the pressure on local water resources, Kuwait Government adopted policies of food self sufficiency and agricultural policies need to be reviewed with a need for a clear vision of the concept of virtual water trade and for prioritization of water security. The research recommends that a comprehensive and integrated study of the virtual water flow between the State of Kuwait and the world as a whole carried out.