Port Blair, Jul 03: A water footprint tells us how much water is being used in making or producing a product. It includes ‘direct’ water use like from a water source by an individual or group and ‘indirect’ water use, like the water it took to produce the food we eat, the products we buy, the energy we consume and even the water we save by recycling.
‘Agri-water footprint’ is defined as the total volume of water that is required to produce agriculture and allied produce from start to end. It is measured in m3 (cubic meter) per ton of production, m3 per hectare of cropland, m3 per unit of currency and in other units.
A water footprint consists of three components: Bluewater (irrigation water used), Green water (rainwater used), and Greywater (freshwater used to dilute pollution). Accounting for the water footprint of essential commodities is required for optimum resource management and sustainable supply of food and water.