Rainwater storage systems and household agriculture for the sustainable provision of food & water in developing and developed countries

Food and water are at the heart of every community, form significant aspects of cultural identity, and must be in good supply for healthy and sustainable development. Not surprisingly, food and water feature directly as part of the recent UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) as Goal 2, Zero Hunger, and Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation. Household agriculture (HA) and rainwater storage systems (RSS) have grown in popularity in recent years and have the potential to increase yields and supplement household nutrition. Yet there is a significant lack of research into this potential. Domestic RSS studies usually focus on water savings rather than on crop production. There is also little research on the economic analysis of RSS systems in developing countries where home gardens often fail due to insufficient rainfall and water supply. Promoting green cities in general, begs the question of whether there is enough water available to support it. The recent COVID-19 crisis and keeping safe by isolation at home only strengthens the argument for HA. This study investigates the potential of using RSS in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and particularly for HA. It also looks at economic issues associated with RSS, which are particularly relevant to developing countries. The work focuses mainly on Australia, Bangladesh, and Kenya, but is relevant to most other regions. The findings of this study, and the consequent publications are intended to serve as a key reference on modelling and economic aspects of RWH in urban agriculture and greening of cities. They are expected to be useful to modellers and researchers, water engineers, environmentalists, town planners, and policy makers concerned with sustainable development and dealing with integrated water management and the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus by bringing together knowledge gaps and potential solutions. It is hoped that the challenge of providing food and water for all be met with the same vigour as was the space race, circumnavigation of and landing on the moon