Building our understanding of irrigation in the MDB
Project details
| Objective: |
To build on and continue the ABARES annual survey of irrigation farms in the MDB for a further two years and to analyse the data, with a focus on water use efficiency, water trading and adjustment, and the impacts of water reform on rural and regional communities. |
| Funding: |
$1.8 million |
| Jurisdiction: |
Murray-Darling Basin |
| Commenced: |
February 2011 |
| Completion: |
April 2012 |
| Outputs: |
About the project
Since 2006-07, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has conducted an annual survey of 900 irrigation farms in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). The result has been a valuable three year data set (2006-07 to 2008-09) covering irrigation water use, water trading activities, use of irrigation technologies, land values and areas, crop and livestock production, capital flows, and farm costs and receipts. Additionally, it has established an extensive survey network.
The project will provide for the collection of an additional two years of survey data and bring the data set up-to-date by the end of 2011. ABARES will also analyse the data with a focus on water use efficiency, water trading and adjustment, and the impacts of water reform on rural and regional communities.
An immediate assessment of the impacts of water reform and change in the irrigation sector based on the existing three year data set (2006-07 to 2008-09 financial years) will be used to inform the Commission's 2011 Biennial Assessment and Review of the National Water Initiative (NWI).
Further analysis will be undertaken following the collection of the fourth year of data (2009-10). This analysis will cover water trading, water-use efficiency, regional adjustment, and the impacts of the NWI. Additional analysis will occur following the collection of the fifth year of data (2010-11).
The data collected will provide a critical evidence-base for the NWC's 2012 Assessment of the impacts of water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin.
Project benefits
The project will ensure a valuable time-series, which supports important and timely analysis, is maintained.
The 2009 Biennial Assessment found that there is a paucity of data surrounding structural adjustment processes.
This project will build understanding of irrigation in the MDB and support further efforts to improve knowledge on structural adjustment and the impact of water reform.
Investing in the expanding the Murray-Darling irrigation data set will contribute to a better understanding of the impact of water reform on irrigation and regional communities in the MDB.