Answer:
Irrigation plays a vital role in fostering the economic viability
of agricultural production in Oklahoma, especially in the arid and
semi-arid western parts of the state. In recent years, irrigated
agriculture has been challenged by prolonged droughts and
strong competition from industrial, urban and environmental
sectors over limited freshwater resources. These constraints
along with the increasing demand in food, feed, fiber and fuel
necessitate the urgent need to provide Oklahoma producers
with tools to improve irrigation management and maximize
water productivity. This task, however, is not possible without
understanding the current situation of irrigated agriculture and
investigating its potential weaknesses and opportunities.
