General Information
· Main climates: Subtropical Dry Summer
· Total land area: 9 239 000 ha
· Internal renewable water resources: 34 km3
· Incoming water flow: 31.6 km3
· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 14 569
· Main food consumed: Wheat, Oil & Fat, Meat, Sugar & Honey, Alcohol beverage
· Rice supply, 1999: 24.3 kg paddy/capita/year
Basic Statistics
|
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
|
RICE |
|
|
|
|
|
Harvested area (T ha) |
30.3 |
33.82 |
21.72 |
24.0 |
|
Yield (kg/ha) |
4835 |
4614 |
5732 |
6208 |
|
Production (T t) |
146.5 |
156.0 |
124.5 |
149.0 |
|
Imports (T t) |
107.7 |
76.73 |
103.2 |
NA |
|
Exports (T t) |
0 |
32.74 |
10.35 |
NA |
|
OTHERS |
|
|
|
|
|
Population (T) |
9904 |
9869 |
9856 |
NA |
|
Agr population (M) |
2366 |
1962 |
1662 |
NA |
|
Irrigated agr area (T ha) |
630 |
631 |
632 |
NA |
|
Fertilizer cons (T t) |
240.8 |
278.4 |
244.0 |
NA |
|
Agr tractor in use (T units) |
111.4 |
132.0 |
150.0 |
NA |
Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons
Rice producing zones spread around the country. The following table shows the harvested areas from different producing zones.
|
Production Zone |
Harvested area (% total harvested area |
|
Tejo e Sorraia |
30.30 |
|
Sado |
30.30 |
|
Barrages du Sud |
24.24 |
|
Mondego |
15.15 |
Rice is planted once a year.
|
Cropping season |
Planting |
Harvesting |
|
Main season |
4-5 |
9-10 |
Production Practices
Rice is planted only under irrigated conditions, in medium to large and highly mechanised farms. Direct seeding by broadcasting is the popular method of crop establishment. Rice crops are applied with adequate rate of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals for crop protection. Rice varieties belong to japonica subspecies.
|
Variety Name |
Released period |
Growth duration (days) |
|
ALLORIO |
All rice areas |
140-145 |
|
ARIETE |
The area planted to this variety and Koral in 1994 was 23 000 ha |
140-145 |
|
Balilla |
All rice areas |
170 |
|
Banata 35 |
All rice areas |
140-150 |
|
BONNET BELL |
All rice areas |
140-150 |
|
Estrela A |
All rice areas |
135-145 |
|
Koral |
All rice areas |
135-145 |
|
Lido |
In 1994 it was planted to 1 000 ha |
135-145 |
|
Onda |
In 1994 it was planted to 1 500 ha |
135-145 |
|
Onda |
All rice areas |
135-145 |
|
Precoce 6 |
All rice areas |
130-135 |
|
Ribe |
All rice areas |
140-145 |
|
Riva |
EPAC |
135-145 |
|
Strella A |
In 1994 it was planted to 3 500 ha |
155-165 |
|
Tarriso |
All rice areas |
135-145 |
|
Thaibonnet |
In 1994 it was planted to 3 000 ha |
140-150 |
|
Topazio |
All rice areas |
135-145 |
|
Vela |
EPAC |
145-155 |
Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production
There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in Portugal. Followings are the major:
Low temperature
Stagnation of the yield potential of rice varieties
High production costs
Blast
Limited water supply
People of Portugal consume the highest quantity of rice per capita among the Europeans. The opening of rice market under WTO would have important effect on national rice production. Also, rice production will be affected by the population's concern on environmental degradation.
Research and Development Institutes
· Seccao Melhoramento de Arroz, Estacao Agronomica Nacional, Quinta do Marqué, 2780 Oerias, Phone: 351-1-4431505 Fax: 351-1-4420867
· Seccão Melhoramento de Arroz, Estacao Agronomica Nacional, Quinta do Marques, 2780 Oerias, Portugal; Tel 351 1 4431505; Fax 351 1 4420867
