Improving food security through water management and allocation: A geospatial optimization approach

In response to the growing population and rising demand for agricultural production, the need for efficient and sustainable allocation of water resources becomes highly crucial. In the State of Qatar, these imperatives are particularly pronounced due to its arid desert climate and limited freshwater resources. Consequently, Qatar has been striving to enhance its food security. This research focuses on optimising the spatial distribution of water resources, encompassing various sources such as desalinated water (DW), groundwater (GW) and treated sewage effluent (TSE), to supply a variety of agricultural and fodder farms. By leveraging geospatial data within ArcGIS, the study deploys advanced optimisation techniques to create an optimal allocation network map that enhances resource utilization while concurrently minimising the costs associated with supplying water from various water sources to these farms. This research takes a comprehensive approach to tackle the multifaceted challenges of water allocation in agriculture, which includes integrating alternative water sources, prioritizing cost-effectiveness, and promoting sustainability. Furthermore, this study incorporates factors that will guide the geospatial distribution of different water resources. This includes groundwater depth, pH, salinity, and recharge rate. In addition to socio-environmental factors, such as public acceptance. The outcomes of this study offer the potential to provide valuable insights for policymakers along with agricultural and water resources stakeholders. By optimizing the allocation of water resources across various ranges of farms, the aim is to contribute to the long-term sustainability and resilience of agricultural practices, even in the face of evolving environmental and economic constraints.