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PORTUGAL, the westernmost country of Europe, is bordered by Spain and faces the Atlantic Ocean, with an area of 92,000 km2 that includes the offshore islands of the Azores and Madeira. The northern part of the mainland, which is mountainous and rainy, contains areas of intensive agriculture. The south consists of low plateaus that are mainly very dry. Rice is grown in both areas. Some 10% of the population of 9.9 million (1999) is engaged in agriculture. Arable land is 24% of the total, but agriculture forms only 4% of the GDP.
General information
- GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 16,990
- Internal renewable water resources: 34 km3
- Incoming water flow: 31.6 km3
- Main food consumed: wheat, oil and fat, meat, sugar and honey, alcohol beverages
- Rice consumption, 1999: 16.2 kg milled rice per person per year
Production constraints
Rice yield has steadily increased during the last decade. The following are the major constraints to sustainable rice production in Portugal:
- Low temperature
- Stagnation of the yield potential of rice varieties
- High production costs
- Blast
- Limited water supply
Production season |
|
|
|
Planting |
Harvesting |
Main season |
Apr-May |
Sep-Oct |
Basic statistics, Portugal |
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
Rice |
Area harvested (ha) |
30,302 |
33,824 |
21,726 |
27,020 |
26,147 |
24,000 |
Yield (t/ha) |
4.8 |
4.6 |
5.7 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.2 |
Production (t) |
146,525 |
156,072 |
124,554 |
161,774 |
157,252 |
149,000 |
Rice imports (t) |
107,790 |
76,733 |
103,228 |
108,365 |
98,558 |
na |
Paddy imports (t) |
25 |
5,977 |
46,305 |
50,447 |
38,849 |
na |
Rice exports (t) |
21 |
32,746 |
10,350 |
14,558 |
9,140 |
na |
Paddy exports (t) |
6 |
0 |
1,055 |
11 |
4 |
na |
Others |
Population, total (x103) |
9,904 |
9,869 |
9,856 |
9,869 |
9,873 |
na |
Population, agriculture (x103) |
2,366 |
1,962 |
1,662 |
1,508 |
1,460 |
na |
Agricultural area (x103 ha) |
3,994 |
4,011 |
3,924 |
3,572 |
na |
na |
Irrigated agricultural area (x103 ha) |
630 |
631 |
632 |
632 |
na |
na |
Total fertilizer consumption (t) |
240,800 |
278,400 |
244,000 |
248,000 |
na |
na |
Tractors used in agric. (no.) |
111,400 |
132,000 |
150,087 |
155,000 |
na |
na |
Source: FAOSTAT online database. |
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