Dr Emmanuel Mwendera, the Programme Manager for Soil and Water Management reported that the key national water issues and challenges in the country include limited water quantity, increasing and competing demand for water, water pollution, food insecurity, wetland degradation, impact of climate variability and change and water governance issues. He said the impact of climate change in the country result in increased water demand, reduces water availability, reduces agricultural production and food security. He highlighted some agricultural water management projects that have been developed to address the water through the Conservation Agriculture and Rainwater Harvesting for Improved Productivity and Food Security Programme. He mentioned that through the programme, rainfall water that is normally lost through runoff is now collected and used productively for crop production. He reported that more than 1 400 households in 42 rural communities in the Free State, 8 rural communities in the Eastern Cape and 19 rural communities in the Limpopo Provinces have improved their food security by adopting the Rainwater Harvesting technology. Climate Change and Communities