2.8 billion people live in areas facing water scarcity. Like Patricia Mhike and Blessing Shayanewako (pictured) who farm in Wedza, rural Zimbabwe.
Mid-season droughts make farming increasingly hard to depend on, threatening their livelihoods. Families survive on as little as $1 a day, so there's not much to fall back on.
But a little know-how goes a long way. Progressio's local expert, Melody Kwanayi, works with Environment Africa, a small NGO doing big things to help local communities across southern Africa.
Melody's a farming specialist. She brings a wealth of knowledge about farming practices that are more sustainable in times of drought, how to conserve water and how to grow crops that need less of it - it’s information that isn't much known to local communities.
The world meets in June 2012 for Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio. And water for food and farming must be on the agenda.
Water is an essential part of sustainable development; a fundamental resource that underpins both life and livelihood. But he poorest are often at particular disadvantage when there is competition over water resources.
Please help us send a message to the Rio+20 Conference by filling in your card complete with a message of support to Secretary of State Caroline Spelman who leads the UK’s delegation in the run-up to Rio. We’ll make sure Mrs Spelman receives your messages.
Please complete your name and address in BLOCK CAPITALS and post them to: Progressio, Unit 5, Canonbury Yard, 190a New North Road, London, N1 7BJ
