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1. Definition
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Name
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EXPENDITURE
ON WATER
|
|
Brief
definition
|
Degree
of dependence of crop production of water
|
|
Unit of measure
|
€/ha,
use of water (€)/1000 € of output (or %
of total production costs)
|
2.
Position within the logical framework DPSIR
|
Type
of Indicator
|
Driving
Force
|
3.
Target and political pertinence
|
Objective
|
The
purpose of this indicator is to measure the importance
of the cost of water for crop production and its role
of putting pressure on the resources, specially in
arid or semi-arid areas.
|
|
Importance
with respect to desertification
|
The
challenge for agriculture is to increase food production
in a sustainable way. This indicator shows how the
production relies on water costs.
Water
is a necessary production factor in irrigated agriculture.
Its cost reflects the economic sustainability and
the indirect environmental trade-offs. The more the
water costs, the less available it is and therefore
there is more stress on the system (local or distant)
in order to obtain the resource.
|
|
International
Conventions and agreements
|
The
UNCCD emphasizes that in order to combat desertification,
it must be tackled within the general framework of
actions that promote sustainable development.
|
|
Secondary objectives
of the indicator
|
Contribution
to the definition and mapping of ESAs and assessment
of the desertification risk of an area. It can explain
the socio-economic dependence of one area on water resources
and its availability. |
4.
Methodological description and basic definitions
|
Definitions
and basic concepts
|
Cost
of water is usually in €/m³. In order to
standardise this indicator it is better to calculate
m³/ha and then €/m³. It is possible
to refine the indicator calculating costs per type
of crop, but then it is necessary to have a good crop
map to hand. It is very important to try to incorporate
hidden costs as indirect state subsides through infrastructure
construction.
|
|
Benchmarks
Indication of the values/ranges of value
|
Highly
dependent on local conditions.
|
|
Methods
of measurement
|
Sum
of m³ on hectares of Agricultural Land x cost
of m³. If production data are available then
the cost for each output production can be also used.
|
|
Limits
of the indicator
|
Price
of water can incorporate indirect subsides that are
difficult to uncover, and jeopardize inter-regional
comparisons.
|
|
Linkages with other
indicators
|
This indicator is closely
linked to others in the agricultural and water groups,
such as Mechanisation
index, Irrigation potential realised.
|
5.
Evaluation of data needs and availability
|
Data
required to calculate the indicator
|
Data
on water consumption, price per m³ and agricultural
area.
|
|
Data
sources
|
Official
statistics. Price of water for little wells probably
needs to be recorded by owners/ irrigation communities
|
|
Availability of data
from national and international sources
|
Usually
available at national and regional levels. FAO has
international figures.
The most accurate information can
be obtained from the land user.
|
6.
Institutions that have participated in developing the indicator
|
Main
institutions responsible
|
University
of Murcia, Spain
|
|
Other
contributing organizations
|
Agricultural
University of Athens , Universities of Lisbon, Greece,
Basilicata, Amsterdam, Leeds |
7.
Additional information
|
Bibliography
|
Gleick,P., 1993:
Water in crisis: a guide to the world´s fresh
water resources. Oxford University Press. 493 pp
Commission of
the European communities. COM 2001(144). Statistical
information needed for indicators to monitor the Integration
of Environmental concerns into the Common Agricultural
Policy
|
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Other
references
|
|
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Contacts Name and address
|
University of Murcia
F. López-Bermúdez
email: lopber@um.es
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