NEW INFORMATION PAPER ON ESTIMATING IRRIGATED PRODUCTION

Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production (GVIAP) refers to the gross value of agricultural commodities that are produced using irrigation. The ABS has been developing an improved methodology for calculating GVIAP, described in an information paper released in
October 2008.

To date, the ABS has used two different methods to calculate GVIAP estimates for various publications such as the Water Account, Australia (cat. no. 4610.0) and the joint ABS/Productivity Commission publication Characteristics of Australia's Irrigated Farms (cat. no.
4623.0).

The information paper describes and evaluates the methods the ABS has used to produce estimates of GVIAP. It provides a description of the proposed improved methodology for calculating GVIAP for Australia, allowing increased accuracy and the flexibility to produce sub-state estimates.

It is proposed that experimental estimates based on the improved methodology will be published in Experimental Estimates of the Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production 2000–01 to 2006–07 (cat. no. 4610.0.55.008) in early 2009 and also for the next edition of the Water Account.

For further information, contact Steven May on (02) 6252 5593 or email: Steven.May@abs.gov.au