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PARAGUAY, a relatively small landlocked country in central South America, has an area of 407,000 km2 and a population of 5.4 million (1999). The country consists of fertile irrigated plains in the east and dry savanna in the west. Most crops are grown in the easterly plains, with soybeans being the major export crop. About half the workforce is engaged in mainly subsistence agriculture, which constitutes 28% of the GDP.
General information
- GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 4,450
- Internal renewable water resources: 94 km3
- Incoming water flow: 220 km3
- Main food consumed: roots and tubers, meat, oil and fat, wheat, maize
- Rice consumption, 1999: 11 kg milled rice per person per year
Production constraints
The following are the major constraints to sustainable rice production in Paraguay:
- Reduction in support from the public sector for rice research and extension
- Blast and straighthead
- Weed competition
- Inadequate milling facilities
- High production costs
Production season |
|
|
|
Planting |
Harvesting |
Main season |
Sep-Dec |
Jan-Mar |
Basic statistics, Paraguay |
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
Rice |
Area harvested (ha) |
39,000 |
34,000 |
48,000 |
20,860 |
23,000 |
25,000 |
Yield (t/ha) |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
Production (t) |
97,207 |
85,701 |
136,260 |
80,921 |
92,000 |
93,000 |
Rice imports (t) |
0 |
1 |
1,267 |
2,524 |
3,115 |
na |
Paddy imports (t) |
0 |
1 |
475 |
323 |
100 |
na |
Rice exports (t) |
0 |
1,800 |
0 |
1,765 |
1,295 |
na |
Paddy exports (t) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
720 |
1,270 |
na |
Others |
Population, total (x103) |
3,609 |
4,219 |
4,828 |
5,222 |
5,358 |
na |
Population, agriculture (x103) |
1,723 |
1,931 |
2,088 |
2,182 |
2,214 |
na |
Agricultural area (x103 ha) |
19,999 |
23,299 |
23,985 |
23,985 |
na |
na |
Irrigated agricultural area (x103 ha) |
65 |
65 |
67 |
67 |
na |
na |
Total fertilizer consumption (t) |
11,271 |
17,923 |
23,000 |
61,500 |
na |
na |
Tractors used in agric. (no.) |
11,200 |
15,100 |
16,500 |
16,500 |
na |
na |
Source: FAOSTAT online database. |
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