Between 2013 and 2023, the land area equipped for irrigation in South America increased from 17.07 million hectares to 19.32 million hectares. The year-on-year growth has significantly decelerated over this period, from 2.42% in 2013 to only 0.13% in 2023. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) also indicates a marked slowdown from 2.99% over 2013 to 2017, to 0.44% over the last five years.
Looking into the future, forecast data suggest continued sluggish growth with a projected five-year CAGR of only 0.1%, and the total land area reaching 19.44 million hectares by 2028. This represents an overall increase of merely 0.48% over this period.
Future trends to watch for include:
- Technological advancements in irrigation efficiency.
- Changes in agricultural policies and investment levels.
- Climate change impacts and water resource management strategies.
