1. Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural Statistics
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Land and Water Division
Contribution of the Water Unit to the
Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural Statistics
through
AQUASTAT
FAO’s global information system on water and agriculture by
Karen FRENKEN
Coordinator for the AQUASTAT Programme
Seminar on global strategy for improving agricultural and rural statistics for Permanent Representatives
FAO-Headquarters, Rome, Italy, 22 June 2009

2. Observation
While agricultural statistics include many items related to land and land use, there is a tendency to forget to include statistics on water, especially water required for irrigation
Irrigation
70 %
Industry
20 %
Municipalities
10 %
Water withdrawal by sector

3. Litres per day per capita
Water and agriculture
Litres per day per capita
Essential
Abundant
Drinking 2 4
Domestic 40
400
Food
1 000
5 000

4. Collaboration between the Statistics Division (ESS) and the Land and Water Division (NRL) on water-related items
FAOSTAT:
Area equipped for irrigation, harmonized with AQUASTAT
AQUASTAT:
All other water-related items
World Census on Agriculture 2010 (WCA2010):
Module on water management, harmonized with AQUASTAT
Global strategy for improving agricultural statistics:
Water-related items, harmonized with AQUASTAT

5. MDGs, water and agriculture
MDG-1: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty
MDG-7: Ensure environmental sustainability
MDG water indicator 7.5
Proportion of renewable water resources withdrawn
AQUASTAT is responsible to provide the data for this indicator:
Renewable water resources
Water withdrawn by agriculture, municipalities and industries