Percent of cultivated land equipped for irrigation

Definition

Proportion of cultivated land (including arable land and land used for permanent crops) that is equipped for irrigation. Irrigation may include full/partial control irrigation, equipped lowland areas, and areas equipped for spate irrigation.

Relevance

Irrigation enables farmers to increase their food production and household income, and may also enable production of more drought-sensitive crops, such as vegetables. Irrigation may also benefit resilience to rainfall variability; water, sanitation, and hygiene; and women's empowerment.