The pie charts compare the proportions of water used for different agricultural products with the shares of income these products generated in Australia in 2004.
Overall, livestock was by far the most water-intensive sector, whereas fruit production contributed the largest share of income. A clear imbalance can be observed between water consumption and economic return, particularly for livestock and fruit.
In terms of water usage, livestock accounted for the largest proportion at 36%, almost double that of dairy, which stood at 19%. Cotton was the third-largest consumer, using 15% of water. Fruit and sugar required similar amounts, at 11% and 10% respectively, while rice and vegetables used the least water, at 5% and 4%.
By contrast, fruit was the most economically valuable product, generating a striking 44% of total income despite its relatively modest water usage. Dairy ranked second, contributing 24%, followed by cotton at 13%. In stark contrast, livestock produced only 6% of income, highlighting a significant inefficiency given its dominant share of water consumption. The remaining products – sugar, vegetables, and rice – made comparatively minor contributions, accounting for 7%, 5%, and 1% respectively.
Overall, the data clearly indicate that some agricultural sectors, particularly fruit, were far more efficient in converting water into economic value than others, most notably livestock.