Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
100 million people in LAC face water scarcity despite the region holding 34% of the planet's renewable freshwater (FAO, 2026).
61% probability is estimated by WMO that El Niño will bring severe droughts to Belize, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, threatening crops and water supplies in countries already facing high imported food prices due to the Iran conflict (The Guardian, 2026).
Large-scale irrigation infrastructure could generate a 0.34% increase in yields (CAF, 2025).
A 14% increase in yields is obtained with in situ water retention techniques (CAF, 2025).
84% of agriculture in LAC depends exclusively on rainwater (CAF, 2025).
Five times more cultivated area could be achieved with large-scale irrigation financed by CAF (CAF, 2025).
A 7% increase in production could be achieved with small-scale irrigation projects (CAF, 2025).
Increases in productive assets, such as livestock, are associated with access to irrigation (CAF, 2025).
70% of freshwater is consumed by agricultural activities (CAF, 2025).
42.7 was the external relative labor productivity index for Basic services in LAC versus the EU (EU=100) in 2023 (ECLAC, 2025).
