Measuring Irrigation Subsidies: Policy recommendations from a Spanish case study

The document argues for a standardized methodology to quantify irrigation subsidies to ensure international comparability, utilizing a 'Net Cost to the Supplier' approach. Applying this method to Spain, the study estimates annual irrigation subsidies between €906 million and €1.120 million. It offers recommendations for overcoming methodological challenges regarding water pricing and capital investment valuation, while urging Spanish policymakers to increase the transparency of subsidy program data.

• The study estimates that irrigation subsidies for agriculture in Spain range from €906 million to €1.120 million annually, based on conservative assumptions.
• There is a lack of a standardized national methodology for measuring irrigation subsidies, necessitating a defined set of parameters to allow for international comparisons.
• The GSI has developed a foundational method for quantifying irrigation subsidies based on the 'Net Cost to the Supplier' approach, which prioritizes the measurement of government expenditures found in official documentation and budget reports.

APA

Charles,, C. (2010). Measuring Irrigation Subsidies: Policy recommendations from a Spanish case study. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/measuring-irrigation-subsidies-policy-recommendations-spanish-case-study

Chicago

Charles,, Chris. Measuring Irrigation Subsidies: Policy recommendations from a Spanish case study. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2010. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/measuring-irrigation-subsidies-policy-recommendations-spanish-case-study.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Charles, |first1=Chris |title=Measuring Irrigation Subsidies: Policy recommendations from a Spanish case study |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=28 October 2010 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/measuring-irrigation-subsidies-policy-recommendations-spanish-case-study |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{charles2010measuring, author = {Charles,, Chris}, title = {{Measuring Irrigation Subsidies: Policy recommendations from a Spanish case study}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2010}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/measuring-irrigation-subsidies-policy-recommendations-spanish-case-study}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }