4610.0.55.007 - Water and the Murray-Darling Basin - A Statistical Profile, 2000-01 to 2005-06  
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Contents >> Agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin >> Irrigated and non-irrigated agricultural production

IRRIGATED AND NON-IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

The Murray-Darling Basin is a unique region in Australia because it contains the majority of Australia's irrigated agricultural land (65% in 2005–06) (table 4.16). One reason for the proliferation of irrigated crops and pasture in the MDB is the Basin's water storage and delivery infrastructure, enabling water to be captured and transported to farms.

So far in this chapter the focus has been on total agricultural production. The following section looks more closely at irrigated agricultural production in the MDB.


Irrigated farms and area in the Murray-Darling Basin

More than 1.4 million ha (or 56%) of Australia's irrigated agricultural land is in the New South Wales and Victorian parts of the MDB (table 4.16). Approximately 90% (or 0.9 million ha) of the total New South Wales irrigated area, and 81% (or 0.5 million ha) of Victoria's total irrigated area occurs in the MDB.

4.16 Irrigated and non-irrigated land—2005–06

Irrigated
Non-irrigated
Total Agriculture
Area
Proportion of Australian irrigated land
Area
Proportion of Australian non-irrigated land
Area
'000 ha
%
'000 ha
%
'000 ha

Murray-Darling Basin
New South Wales
914
36
50 300
12
51 214
Victoria
522
20
7 071
2
7 593
Queensland
147
6
23 275
5
23 421
South Australia
71
3
6 484
1
6 555
Australian Capital Territory
-
-
45
-
45
Total(a)
1 654
65
87 174
20
88 828
Balance of Australia
New South Wales
80
3
10 825
3
10 906
Victoria
126
5
4 595
1
4 721
Queensland
393
15
121 706
28
122 098
South Australia
145
6
48 708
11
48 854
Western Australia
60
2
98 592
23
98 653
Tasmania
81
3
1 658
-
1 739
Northern Territory
7
-
59 120
14
59 127
Total(a)
893
35
345 205
80
346 097
Australia
2 546
100
432 378
100
434 925

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Components may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: Water Use on Australian Farms, 2005–06, cat. no. 4618.0


Within the MDB, more irrigated farms are located in Victoria compared with each of the other states. This concentration of irrigators indicates that the average area of irrigated farms is smaller in the Victorian part of the MDB compared with New South Wales (table 4.17).

4.17 Irrigated farms—2005–06

Number
Proportion of state/territory irrigated farms
Area
Proportion of state/territory irrigated area
no.
%
'000 ha
%

Murray-Darling Basin
New South Wales
6 651
57
914
92
Victoria
7 915
68
522
81
Queensland
1 536
16
147
27
South Australia
2 514
40
71
33
Australian Capital Territory
17
100
-
100
Total(a)
18 634
. .
1 654
. .
Balance of Australia
New South Wales
4 936
43
80
8
Victoria
3 706
32
126
19
Queensland
8 324
84
393
73
South Australia
3 783
60
145
67
Western Australia
3 173
100
60
100
Tasmania
1 919
100
81
100
Northern Territory
351
100
7
100
Total(a)
26 193
. .
892
. .
Australia(a)
44 826
. .
2 546
. .

. . not applicable
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Components may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: Water Use on Australian Farms, 2005–06, cat. no. 4618.0



Irrigated and non-irrigated crops

In 2005–06, the MDB accounted for a greater proportion of Australia's non-irrigated agricultural land than it did in 2000–01 for a range of commodities including cotton (80% in 2000–01, 98% in 2005–06) and cereals other than rice (48% in 2000–01, 51% in 2005–06). In this period, the Basin's non-irrigated agricultural land decreased as a proportion of the Australian total for fruit, grapes and vegetables (table 4.18).

The MDB accounted for a lower proportion of Australia's irrigated land in 2000–01 compared with 2005–06 (decreasing from 73% to 65%). In this period, the only irrigated crop or pasture in the MDB that increased as a proportion of Australian irrigated area was fruit (from 51% to 53%).

4.18 Contribution of Murray-Darling Basin irrigated and non-irrigated land to Australia, by crop(a)—2000–01 and 2005–06

Irrigated
Non-irrigated
2000–01
2005–06
2000–01
2005–06
%
%
%
%

Rice
100
100
. .
. .
Cereals (excl. rice)
90
88
48
51
Cotton
93
92
80
98
Grapes
63
58
44
43
Fruit (excl. grapes)
51
53
33
12
Vegetables(b)
32
28
22
13
Total Agriculture
73
65
18
20

. . not applicable
(a) Irrigated land as a proportion of total Australian irrigated crop land; non-irrigated land as a proportion of total Australian non-irrigated crop land.
(b) For human consumption.
Source: Water Use on Australian Farms, 2005–06, cat. no. 4618.0; ABS data available on request, Agricultural Census, 2000–01 and 2005–06


Many of the crops and pasture grown in the MDB rely on irrigation to facilitate production. In 2005-06, more than 80% of the MDB area of cotton and fruit, and more than 90% of grapes and vegetables for human consumption were irrigated (table 4.19).

The irrigated proportion of the total area for most crops showed minimal change between 2000-01 and 2005-06. However, for fruit crops, there was an increase from 77% to 85%.

All rice grown in Australia is irrigated and located in the MDB. The land area utilised for growing rice was less in 2005–06 than in 2000–01. Only 3% of area for cereals other than rice were irrigated in the MDB in 2005–06. While this proportion remained the same as in 2000-01, the irrigated and non-irrigated areas increased. Irrigated and non-irrigated cotton areas in the MDB both decreased in this period.

4.19 Irrigated and non-irrigated agricultural land, by crop and pasture—Murray-Darling Basin—2000–01 and 2005–06

2000–01
2005–06
Irrigated
Non-irrigated
Irrigated proportion
Irrigated
Non-irrigated
Irrigated proportion
'000 ha
'000 ha
%
'000 ha
'000 ha
%

Pasture (native or sown)
760
na
na
717
na
na
Rice
178
. .
100
102
. .
100
Cereals (excl. rice)
260
8 835
3
329
10 053
3
Cotton
405
78
84
247
56
81
Grapes
84
7
92
106
8
93
Fruit (excl. grapes)
59
18
77
75
13
85
Vegetables(a)
37
5
89
31
3
92
Total Agriculture
1 824
81 685
2
1 654
87 174
2

. . not applicable
na not available
(a) For human consumption.
Source: Water Use on Australian Farms, 2005–06, cat. no. 4618.0; ABS data available on request, Agricultural Census, 2000–01 and 2005–06



Location of irrigated agricultural production in the Murray-Darling Basin

Irrigation activity occurs over a relatively small area of the MDB; only 2% of the total agricultural land. Irrigated crops and pasture are generally grown downstream from major water storages and delivery infrastructure, adjacent to major rivers, and often within specified irrigation districts (see map 1.16).

In 2005–06, some irrigated crops, rice and cotton for example, were grown in relatively confined areas of the MDB.
  • Rice was predominantly grown in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, around Griffith and Deniliquin.
  • Approximately 39% of irrigated pasture in 2005-06 was used for dairy farming (see Chapter 3). This occurred predominantly in the northern Victorian and southern New South Wales areas of the MDB.
  • Irrigated cotton was predominantly grown in the northern New South Wales and southern Queensland areas of the MDB.

Irrigated crops such as fruit, grapes, vegetables and cereals other than rice were dispersed over a larger area than cotton and rice, in 2005-06. Irrigated pasture for non-dairy livestock was also distributed over a broad area of the MDB.
  • Irrigated fruit areas in the MDB followed the Murray River in the South Australian 'Riverland' region and in north-west Victoria. Irrigated fruit was also grown around Shepparton, Griffith and south-east Queensland.
  • Areas of irrigated grapes were scattered along the Murray River in the 'Riverland' region of South Australia and in north western Victoria. Irrigated grapes were also grown in the southern MDB in Victoria and the eastern MDB in New South Wales.
  • Irrigated vegetables were located across northern Victoria, southern New South Wales, and parts of south-east South Australia and south-east Queensland.
  • Irrigated cereals other than rice were grown in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales, and around Griffith, Toowoomba, Dubbo and Tamworth.
  • In 2005-06, approximately 61% of irrigated pasture was used for non-dairy livestock. Irrigated pasture used for non-dairy livestock occurred broadly across much of the MDB, with particular concentration in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales.


Economic value of Agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin

This section presents estimates of the value of agricultural production in the MDB along with estimates of the value of irrigated agricultural production. The gross value of agricultural production in 2005-06 was published in the ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 7503.0).

Australia's Agriculture industry not only produces food and fibre for domestic consumption and export, but in 2005-06 represented approximately 3% of Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (ABS 2006b). In 2005-06, Agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin produced a gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) of $14,991m, 39% of Australia's total GVAP ($38,541m, see table 4.20).

Of all agricultural commodities, livestock (excluding dairy, $4,225m) and cereals other than rice ($3,436m) produced the most economic value, followed by dairy farming ($1,172m) and fruit ($1,111m).

4.20 Gross Value of Agricultural Production(a), by commodity—2005–06

MDB
Aust.
MDB as a proportion of Aust.
$m
$m
%

Dairy farming
1 172
3 603
33
Other livestock
4 225
10 987
38
Rice
274
274
100
Cereals (excl. rice)
3 436
7 320
47
Cotton
861
933
92
Grapes
777
1 377
56
Fruit (excl. grapes)
1 111
2 627
42
Vegetables
602
2 923
21
Other agricultural commodities(b)
2 533
8 494
30
Total agricultural commodities(c)
14 991
38 541
39

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes.
(b) Includes other broadacre crops and nurseries.
(c) Components may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: ABS data available on request, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2005–06


In the 5 years from 2000-01 to 2005-06, the GVAP in the Murray-Darling Basin increased 7.3%, from $13,964m to $14,991m in current price terms (table 4.21). This was lower than the general increase in the cost of living over this period when compared with the All Groups Consumer Price Index which increased by 14.7% between 2000-01 and 2005-06 (cat. no. 6401.0). Furthermore, the increase in Australian GVAP (12%) was more than the increase in MDB GVAP over the same period (7%). From 2000-01 to 2005-06, the GVAP of some commodities increased (e.g. dairy farming, other livestock and fruit), however others decreased (e.g. rice, cotton and grapes).

4.21 Gross Value of Agricultural Production(a), by commodity—2000–01 and 2005–06

Murray-Darling Basin
Australia
2000-01
2005-06
2000-01
2005-06
$m
$m
$m
$m

Dairy farming
1 037
1 172
3 283
3 603
Other livestock
2 817
4 225
8 364
10 987
Rice
349
274
350
274
Cereals (excl. rice)
3 565
3 436
7 327
7 320
Cotton
1 184
861
1 305
933
Grapes
874
777
1 517
1 377
Fruit (exc. grapes)
839
1 111
2 020
2 627
Vegetables
603
602
2 251
2 923
Other agricultural commodities(b)
2 695
2 533
7 723
8 494
Total agricultural commodities(c)
13 972
14 991
34 164
38 541

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes.
(b) Includes other broadacre crops and nurseries.
(c) Components may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: ABS data available on request, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2005–06



Economic value of irrigated agricultural production

Maximising economic benefit from irrigation is a key theme emerging from recent water policies. There is strong interest in estimating the value generated from irrigating crops. A central component of the federal government's National Water Initiative (NWI) concerns the flow of water to its highest value use (see Appendix). Integrating the volume of water used with a measure of the return to the Australian economy provides one indication of the economic benefit obtained from applying water to certain agricultural commodities. The change over time provides an indication of whether water is being utilised by relatively higher value users.

Allocative efficiency refers to how well water is allocated across industries in terms of the production value returned to the economy per quantity of water used. Allocative efficiency is achieved when it is not possible to increase the value added for the economy as a whole by transferring water from one activity to another (The Treasury: Roberts, Mitchell and Douglas 2006).

The following section provides an analysis of the Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production (GVIAP) in the MDB generated by different agricultural commodities, including a comparison with the volume of water consumed in the same period. The irrigated value of production is compared to non-irrigated value of production, and the change in GVIAP between 2000-01 and 2005-06 is also presented.

GVIAP should not be used as a proxy for determining the highest value water use, because water is not the only input to agricultural production from irrigated land (ABS 2006a). Land, fertiliser, labour, machinery and other inputs are also used, and their contribution to agricultural production cannot be separately identified. Estimates of GVIAP are derived from agricultural commodity values in the 2000-01 and 2005-06 editions of Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia (cat. no. 7503.0). Further details on the methods used to derive the estimates are presented in the Explanatory Notes.

In 2005-06, nearly $4.6 billion, or 44% of Australia's GVIAP originated in the MDB (table 4.22). The majority of the GVIAP for rice (100%), cotton (92%), and cereals other than rice (84%) was generated in the Basin.

4.22 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production(a), by commodity—2005–06

MDB
Aust.
MDB as a proportion of Aust.
$m
$m
%

Dairy farming
938
1 812
52
Other livestock
132
180
73
Rice
274
274
100
Cereals (excl. rice)
92
109
84
Cotton
797
869
92
Grapes
722
1 228
59
Fruit (excl. grapes)
898
1 820
49
Vegetables
530
2 473
21
Other agricultural commodities(b)
193
1 722
11
Total agricultural commodities(c)
4 576
10 486
44

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes
(b) Includes sugar and other broadacre crops and nurseries.
(c) Components may not add to total due to rounding.


In 2005-06, the highest GVIAP was generated from dairy farming ($938m or 20% of the MDB GVIAP), fruit ($898 or 20%), cotton ($797m or 17%), and grapes ($722m or 16%) (table 4.23).

4.23 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production(a), by commodity—Murray-Darling Basin—2005–06

GVIAP
Proportion of total GVIAP
$m
%

Dairy farming
938
20
Other livestock
132
3
Rice
274
6
Cereals (excl. rice)
92
2
Cotton
797
17
Grapes
722
16
Fruit (excl. grapes)
898
20
Vegetables
530
12
Other agricultural commodities(b)
193
4
Total agricultural commodities(c)
4 576
100

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes
(b) Includes other broadacre crops and nurseries.
(c) Components may not add to total due to rounding.


Although the MDB generated 44% of Australia's GVIAP in 2005-06, this was achieved with 66% of Australia's agricultural water consumption (see Chapter 3). Cotton consumed a significant volume of water (20% of agricultural water consumption in the MDB) to generate 17% of the MDB GVIAP. Rice also accounted for a significant volume of agricultural water consumption in the MDB (16%), but generated only 6% of GVIAP. Vegetables generated 13% of GVIAP but consumed only 2% of MDB water consumption (see table 4.24 and graph 4.25).

4.24 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production and water consumption, by commodity—Murray-Darling Basin—2005–06

GVIAP(a)
Proportion of total GVIAP
Water consumption
Proportion of total water consumption
$m
%
GL
%

Dairy farming
938
21
1 287
17
Other livestock
132
3
1 284
17
Rice
274
6
1 252
16
Cereals (excl. rice)
92
2
782
10
Cotton
797
17
1 574
20
Grapes
722
16
515
7
Fruit (excl. grapes)
898
20
413
5
Vegetables
530
12
152
2
Other agricultural commodities(b)
193
4
460
6
Total agricultural commodities(c)
4 576
100
7 720
100

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes.
(b) Includes other broadacre crops and nurseries.
(c) Components may not add to total due to rounding.

4.25 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production and water consumption—Murray-Darling Basin—2005–06
Graph: 1.25 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production and water consumption, Murray-Darling Basin—2005–06


In 2005-06, the value generated from irrigated agricultural production contributed a greater proportion of the value of total agricultural production in the MDB (31%) than for the whole of Australia (27%). In the MDB, GVIAP represented 33% of the total GVAP in 2000-01, however this decreased to 30% in 2005-06. GVIAP made up 26% of Australia's total GVAP in 2000-01 and 27% in 2005-06.

In the 5 years from 2000-01 to 2005-06, the GVIAP in the MDB did not change significantly, remaining at approximately $4.6 billion in current price terms. In comparison, the GVIAP for Australia increased by 18% in this period (table 4.26).

4.26 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production and Gross Value of Agricultural Production(a)—2000–01 and 2005–06

Total GVIAP
Total GVAP
GVIAP as a proportion of GVAP
$m
$m
%

2000-01
Murray-Darling Basin
4 585
13 972
33
Australia
8 895
34 164
26
2005-06
Murray-Darling Basin
4 576
14 991
31
Australia
10 486
38 541
27

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes.


Changes in GVIAP between 2000-01 and 2005-06 varied for different agricultural commodities (table 4.27). Caution should be made when assessing whether the movement from 2000-01 to 2005-06 constitutes a long-term trend, because the GVIAP of annual crops like rice and cotton may fluctuate significantly from year to year depending on water availability.

4.27 Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production(a), by commodity—2000–01 and 2005–06

Murray-Darling Basin
Australia
2000–01
2005–06
2000–01
2005–06
$m
$m
$m
$m

Dairy farming
926
938
1 811
1 812
Other livestock
62
132
83
180
Rice
349
274
350
274
Cereals (excl. rice)
106
92
118
109
Cotton
1 105
797
1 215
869
Grapes
809
722
1 352
1 228
Fruit (excl. grapes)
630
898
1 313
1 820
Vegetables
486
530
1 803
2 473
Other agricultural commodities(b)
112
193
850
1 722
Total agricultural commodities(c)
4 585
4 576
8 895
10 486

(a) In current price terms, see Explanatory Notes.
(b) Includes other sugar, broadacre crops and nurseries.
(c) Components may not add to total due to rounding.





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