Demand for agricultural products in the group's region is not expected to decline. Other regions of the world not facing water shortages are likely to make up for the reduction in agricultural output. Farmers who can gain a larger share of the food market in their regions will be better positioned to control more water resources. More than half the water used for agriculture in the farmers' region is lost to evaporation or leakage from irrigation channels.
Many agriculturally intensive areas of the world are beginning to encounter water scarcity problems. As a result, many farmers in these areas are likely to reduce their output as the water supply they need in order to maintain production shrinks. However, one group of farmers in such a region plans to increase their production by implementing techniques for water conservation.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the prediction that the group's plan will succeed?