§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes there have been in total land area used for agricultural purposes over the last 10 years, broken down by(a) country and (b) agricultural land use categories, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. [165749]
§ Hilary BennThe latest available figures from the Food and Agriculture Organisation indicate an overall 14.7 per cent. increase worldwide in land used for 387W agricultural purposes during the period 1991–2001. However, the increase is not spread across all continents. While Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean have all increased, North and Central America and Oceania have decreased by varying amounts. This information is provided in the following two tables.
a) Total land area used for agricultural purposes by: country Land use-agricultural area (1000ha) 1991 2001 Africa 1,098,071 1,108,071 Asia 1,306,609 1,679,915 Europe 218,665 487,771 Latin America and Caribbean 754,025 784,205 North and Central America 639,787 628,196 Oceania 482,826 475,132 Total 4,499,983 5,163,290
b) Total land area used for agricultural land use category World land use 1991 2001 Africa (1000ha) 1,098,071 1,108,333 Arable land 168,209 182,294 Permanent crops 23,106 26,326 Permanent pasture 906,756 899,713 Asia 1,306,609 1,679,915 Arable land 457,324 508,595 Permanent crops 49.878 61,361 Permanent pasture 799,407 1,109,959 Europe 218,665 487,771 Arable land 123,695 288,132 Permanent crops 13,822 16,947 Permanent pasture 81,148 182,882 Latin America and Caribbean 754,025 784,205 Arable land 135,839 149,309 Permanent crops 18,625 20,321 Permanent pasture 599,561 614,575 North and Central America 639,787 628,196 Arable land 266,299 257,512 Permanent crops 7,661 8,500 Permanent pasture 365,827 362,184 Oceania 482,826 475,132 Arable land 48,759 52,384 Permanent crops 2,590 3,278 Permanent pasture 431,477 419,470 Total 4,499,983 5,163,552