"Sub-Saharan Africa could face a future of increasing malnutrition and dependence on food aid unless steps are taken to address the scarcity of water in the region," Mark Rosegrant, senior researcher at International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), told reporters in Nairobi.

The number of people without access to clean water on the continent will increase from 100 million to 400 million by 2025, he said.

"Water scarcity projections for sub-Saharan Africa paint a bleak picture ... under a worst case water scenario, this figure could rise to 523 million people," added a statement from scientists gathered here at a conference of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

The number of malnourished children will also rise tremendously, they said.

Problems of water shortages will reduce the ability of poor countries to fund imports, eventually leading to high levels of malnutrition and increased dependence on international aid, according to CGIAR.

"The region will face a 23 percent shortfall in crop yield due to insufficient water supply and cereal import will have to more than triple to 35 million tonnes in the next 23 years to keep pace with demand," the CGIAR statement added.

Explaining that agriculture currently consumes close to 90 percent of water used in developing countries, scientists warned that increasing industrial and household consumption poses a danger to farming, Africa's main economic activity.

Addressing the gathering, the World Bank's vice president Ian Johnson said his institution plans to increase funding of agriculture and water projects in Africa.

The World Bank was looking for to ways of financing research in new methods of water conservation and food security, said Johnson.

"We have dedicated funding to CGIAR, half of the funds received by the organisation comes to Africa," Johnson said.

"We are doing so because we realise that we are living in a more and more water-stressed environment," he added.

"The green revolution passed Africa and benefitted only Asia. Now this is Africa's chance to assure itself of enough food," said Johnson. "Parts of northern, central and south-central Africa, Congo, Zimbabwe, and parts of Kenya and Zambia face the risk of food shortage."

An official from Kenya's ministry of water resources told the conference his country had embarked on new water conservation methods.

"Devastating floods that have affected most parts of the country were not caused by heavy rains, but poor water conservation caused silting along the mouth of rivers blocking entry," said George Krhoda.

TERRA.WIRE