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ANNEX I. BACKGROUND DATA

Introduction

Throughout the concept note a distinction has been made in developed countries, emerging countries and least developed countries. In addition a distinction has been made in the Continents. The distinction in types of countries is based on the publications of the UN Organisations and other globally working institutions. This resulted in the following:

  • Developed countries. Most of the countries in Western and Central Europe, North America, the larger countries in Oceania and some countries in Asia;
  • Emerging countries. Most of the Eastern European countries (including Russia), most of the countries in Central and South America, most of the countries in Asia (including China, India and Indonesia) and several countries in Africa;
  • Least developed countries. Most of the countries in Africa, several countries in Asia, 1 country in Central America and most of the smaller countries in Oceania.

The agricultural land covers about 1.5 billion ha, which is about 11% of the global land surface of 13.3 billion ha. With respect to agriculture four types of cultivation practices may be distinguished, viz.:

  • rainfed cultivation

    • without a drainage system 1,058 million ha;
    • with a drainage system 118 million ha;

  • irrigated cultivation

    • without a drainage system 214 million ha;
    • with a drainage system 60 million ha.

With respect to agriculture a distinction can be made in three agro-climatic zones:

  • Temperate humid zone. Agriculture generally takes place without a water management system, or with a drainage system only. Supplementary irrigation may be applied as well;
  • Arid and semi-arid zone. Agriculture is normally impossible without an irrigation system. Drainage systems may be applied in association with irrigation systems as well for salinity control and the prevention of waterlogging;
  • Humid tropical zone. Generally a distinction is made in cultivation during the wet and the dry monsoon. During the wet monsoon cultivation is generally possible with a drainage system only, although quite often irrigation is applied as well to overcome dry spells. In the dry monsoon irrigation is generally required to enable a good yield

Population and population growth

Based on the data of the UN Population Reference Bureau and the distinction in types of countries and in Continents Tables I.1 and I.2 show some characteristic data with respect to population, population density and water management.

Table I.1. Some characteristic data with respect to population, population density for the categories of countries and the Continents

Table I.2. Some characteristic data with respect to agriculture and water management for the three types of countries

Some characteristic data on food production

Development of World Market prices for the four main food crops are shown in Figure I.1.

Figure I.1. Development of prices for four basic food crops since 1999 (Source: IMF)

Some characteristic average data with respect to cereal production are shown in Figure I.2.

Figure I.2. Some characteristic average data with respect to cereal production (Schultz, et al., 2005) (Source of the data, FAO Food Outlooks)

Some characteristic data on the relation between water use and yield

There seems to be an interesting relation between water use and yield. An example, based on the cultivation of maize, is shown in Figure I.3. Here it is shown that below a yield of about 2 tons/ha for maize, the water use per ton of crop increases rapidly, especially due to the evaporation from the ground.

Figure I.3. Relation between yield and water use in m3 per ton of grain for maize.