1 Introduction: water use in agriculture 2 The challenge of producing more agricultural goods with less water 3 Factors determining water use in agricultural production 4 Smallholders can change the crop microclimate climate to reduce evapotranspiration and improve water use efficiency and productivity 5 Crop choice affects water use and water productivity 6 Good agricultural practices can greatly improve water use efficiency and water productivity 7 Enhancing infiltration is key for good yields and water productivity in rainfed agriculture 8 Water harvesting at different scales allows for enhanced production and resilience 9 In-field water harvesting and small-scale water storage can be interesting for smallholders 10 Developing rainfed agriculture requires new approaches to introducing innovations 11 Water management beyond rainfed agriculture – caring for our water resources 12 Conclusion 13 Where to look for further information 14 References