Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1970/71
1976/77
1982/83
1988/89
1994/95
2000/01
2006/07
Central Am erica
South Am erica
Sub-Saharan Africa
Wo rld
Source: USDA , FA S.
fIguRe 22.4
Corn yields.
A clear example of inadequate use of inputs is the case of fertilizer in SSA; the
region accounts for only 1% of global consumption. In many low-income countries,
particularly in SSA and Latin America, almost all fertilizer is imported, and insuf-
ficient foreign exchange constrains availability. In addition, fertilizer use is most
productive on irrigated area or areas with sufficient moisture. Therefore, in regions
such as these that suffer from or are vulnerable to dry periods, fertilizer use would
not achieve the results that would be experienced in areas without similar adversities.
Consequently, increased fertilizer use in these regions might be limited to irrigated
areas or regions where rainfall is more predictable.
FAO reports that grain yields in developing countries are more than twice as high
in irrigated areas as in rain-fed areas (FAO, 2004). Agriculture accounts for 70%
of freshwater use worldwide and over 90% of withdrawals in low-income develop-
ing countries. Globally, irrigated area increased nearly 1.4% per year between 1980
and 2002, although the growth rate has declined over time. Growth in developing
countries exceeded this rate, and currently more than a quarter of arable land area in
developing countries is irrigated. It is estimated that about half of the grain produc-
tion in developing countries is grown on irrigated land area.
The highest growth in irrigated area in the developing world has occurred in Asia,
particularly Bangladesh, Nepal, and Vietnam. In East and Southeast Asia, more than
28% of arable land is irrigated. In the Latin American and Caribbean countries,
nearly 13% of arable land is irrigated. Irrigation is severely limited in the most nutri-
tionally vulnerable region, SSA. The region accounts for less than 2% of the world's
irrigated area. Less than 4% of its arable land is irrigated. Irrigation requires invest-
ment in equipment and maintenance—all factors that are elusive in most of SSA.
The World Bank and other international institutions have reduced their investments
