Water abstraction in agriculture

In Finland, farmland irrigation is at a relatively low level compared with many other countries. According to data of the Natural Resources Institute Finland, in 2023 approximately 11,900 hectares of field and horticultural land were irrigated, about 0.5 per cent of utilised agricultural area. The area available for irrigation was 48,720 hectares which is about four times the area actually irrigated. This represented around 2.2 per cent of agricultural land. The highest share of irrigable area of the utilised agricultural area was in Åland

In 2020 available for irrigation was 71,200 hectares in 2020. It was about 3.1 per cent of the whole utilised agricultural area. The irrigated area was about 8,000 hectares in 2016. It is 0.3 per cent of the whole utilised agricultural area. The irrigated area totalled 12,610 hectares in 2010 and 9,470 hectares in 2013. In 2010, roughly 4.4 million m3 of water was used for irrigation. According to the 2010 Farm Structure Survey, farmland irrigation was possible at 4,600 farms, representing 7% of all agricultural and horticultural enterprises in Finland. 

Half of the farms that have irrigation equipment irrigated their lands in 2010. Outdoor vegetables and potatoes were mainly irrigated. Of the area available for irrigation, 9.3% was irrigated due to drought in 2013 and 14.6% in 2016. 

In 2023, around half of the irrigated farms use regulated irrigation, 40% use sprinkler irrigation, 23% use drip irrigation and 14% use surface or spray irrigation or other irrigation methods. Nearly all water used in irrigation is comprised of surface water.

Read more Farmland management and irrigation 2023

The indicator represents the use of water for irrigation in agriculture. The indicator aims to evaluate water consumption and the efficiency of use of water in agriculture.

The information required for the indicator is obtained from Luke's Farm Structure Survey.

This indicator is one of the CAP impact indicators.