Irrigated Agriculture in New Zealand
New Zealand derives immense economic, environmental and social benefit from irrigated agriculture.
Variable climatic conditions coupled with market drivers mean irrigation is essential for consistent and quality food production.
Reliable water supply combined with well managed irrigation practices will result in good environmental outcomes.
The wider community benefits greatly from irrigation. Increased quality coupled with continuity of supply allows greater added value to be realised, this drives resilient profitable communities.
A few facts about Irrigation in NZ:
- Around 4% of New Zealand farmland is irrigated, producing $1 billion net per annum or 12% of the agriculture GDP.
- Irrigated farmland, on average, generates three times the production of an equivalent area farmed under dry-land systems.
- Studies of the economic effect of irrigated agriculture show that one third of the wealth and employment created from irrigation occurs on farm, with the other two thirds spread through rural and city communities.
- Since the late 1970’s irrigated New Zealand farmland has doubled in area every 12 years.
- There is currently thought to be around 750,000ha of irrigation in New Zealand. Available water resources, topography and demand show this figure can be sustainably increased to in excess of 1 million.
- Increased production from irrigated agriculture, based on the principles of sustainable water management has the potential to enable New Zealand’s economy to return to the top half of the OECD – where it has not been for almost two generations.
- New Zealand has abundant water resources to meet present and projected demand, particularly with the development of large scale water storage facilities – and therefore achieve the economic and social benefits irrigation can provide.
- Reliability of supply (water storage) is essential for efficient irrigation. Reducing risk allows investment in quality systems and the adoption of optimal ‘just in time’ irrigation practices.
- Strategic management of the water resource is required to ensure the opportunities irrigated agriculture can offer are maximised in a sustainable manner, safeguarding the values of the many diverse stakeholder interests.
- Competing demands for water can all be met. That they all will be is not guaranteed. Until recently farmer irrigators and others involved in irrigation have not had a dedicated body to lead the industry, advocate on their behalf and set professional standards relating to irrigation.
Irrigation New Zealand has been established to proactively represent and lead the New Zealand irrigation industry forward.
Benefits from the role Irrigation New Zealand plays will be realised by individuals, communities and the wider New Zealand economy.