Can you clarify how the estimated crop water use analysis that is described in section 2.1 (p. 6, lines 34-45) feeds into the nexus analysis? This is not clear from the text, or from Fig 1 and Fig 2.
Have you considered performing a sensitivity concerning crop types (which would affect irrigation water use)? Date palms are certainly dominant, but farmland is also used for growing other crops in these countries. FAO Data suggests land under permanent crops makes up less than a third of cropland use (though it is increasing) (see Table below). Are these other crops not irrigated? How about a sensitivity that increases the irrigated cropland area (why/why not)?
Can you clarify how the estimated crop water use analysis that is described in section 2.1 (p. 6, lines 34-45) feeds into the nexus analysis? This is not clear from the text, or from Fig 1 and Fig 2.
Have you considered performing a sensitivity concerning crop types (which would affect irrigation water use)? Date palms are certainly dominant, but farmland is also used for growing other crops in these countries. FAO Data suggests land under permanent crops makes up less than a third of cropland use (though it is increasing) (see Table below). Are these other crops not irrigated? How about a sensitivity that increases the irrigated cropland area (why/why not)?
Total cropland (1000 ha)
Land under permanent crops (1000 ha)
Source: FAOStat Land Use Data