General Information
· Main climates: Tropical Wet and Dry, Tropical Steppe and Semiarid, Subtropical Humid
· Total land area: 40 675 000 ha
· Internal renewable water resources: 94 km3
· Incoming water flow: 220 km3
· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 4 312
· Main food consumed: Roots & tubers, Meat, Oil & fat, Wheat, Maize
· Rice supply, 1999: 16.5 kg paddy/capita/year
Basic Statistics:
|
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
|
RICE |
|
|
|
|
|
Harvested area (T ha) |
39 |
34 |
48 |
25 |
|
Yield (kg/ha) |
2492 |
2520 |
2838 |
3720 |
|
Production (T t) |
97.2 |
85.7 |
136.2 |
93.0 |
|
Imports (t) |
0 |
1 |
1267 |
NA |
|
Exports (t) |
0 |
1800 |
0 |
NA |
|
OTHERS |
|
|
|
|
|
Population (T) |
3609 |
4219 |
4828 |
NA |
|
Agr population (T) |
1723 |
1931 |
2088 |
NA |
|
Irrigated agr area (T ha) |
65 |
65 |
67 |
NA |
|
Fertilizer cons (T t) |
11.27 |
17.92 |
23.0 |
NA |
|
Agr tractor in use (T units) |
11.20 |
15.10 |
16.50 |
NA |
Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons
The oriental region is the rice bowl of the country. The following table shows the harvested area from different production zones.
|
Production zone |
Harvested area (% total harvested area) |
|
Oriental region |
49.92 |
|
Itapua |
17.01 |
|
Misiones |
10.47 |
|
Amambay |
4.11 |
|
Caazapa |
4.04 |
|
Canindeyu |
3.37 |
|
Alto Parana |
2.99 |
|
Cordillera |
2.31 |
|
Paraguari |
1.81 |
|
Caaguazu |
1.50 |
|
Central |
1.25 |
|
Guaira |
0.49 |
|
Conception |
0.36 |
|
San Pedro |
0.22 |
|
Region Occidental |
0.08 |
|
Peter Hayes |
0.08 |
In most cases, rice is planted once in a year.
|
Cropping season |
Planting |
Harvesting |
|
Main season |
9-12 |
1-3 |
Production Practices
The following figure shows rice harvested areas from different ecologies during the last 5 years.
In upland areas, rice is planted following traditional systems, while in irrigated areas rice production is moderately mechanised. Land preparation is done with tractors. Direct seeding is a popular method of crop establishment. A number of rice varieties have been released for cultivation.
|
Variety Name |
Released period |
Growth duration (days) |
|
CEA 1 |
1989 |
132 |
|
CEA 2 |
1989 |
132 |
|
CEA 3 |
1989 |
132 |
|
CEA 4 - Punta |
1994 |
|
|
CICA 8 |
NA |
130-135 |
|
WICKE 2 |
NA |
NA |
|
BLUE ROSE |
NA |
NA |
|
BLUEBONNET 50 |
NA |
NA |
|
BRASILERITO |
NA |
NA |
|
CICA 6 |
NA |
NA |
|
CICA 7 |
NA |
NA |
|
CICA 9 |
NA |
NA |
|
FORTUNA |
NA |
NA |
|
IAC 25 |
NA |
NA |
|
VISTA |
NA |
NA |
There is only limited information on other crop management practices in rice production.
Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production
There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in Paraguay. Following are the majors:
Reduction in support from public sector to rice research and extension.
Blast and straight head.
Weed competition.
Inadequate milling facilities.
High production cost.
The following table shows the rice production cost.
|
Other information |
Yield (t/ha) |
Cost ($/ha) |
Cost ($/t) |
|
83-84, Irrigated, Direct Seeded |
4.99 |
469 |
94 |
The country is more or less self sufficient in rice.
Research and Development Institutes
· Fundacion Wilke Carmen del Parana, Itapua Alto Parana
· Agropecuaria Santa Rosa Hernandarias Alto Parana Phone: 063498
· Centro Regional de Investigacion Agropecuaria Ruta No. VI, Km. 17 Capitan Miranda Itapua Phone: 071-3799
· Servicio Nacional de Semillas Dr. Gaspar Rodrigues de Francia y Mcal. Estigarribia San Lorenzo Phone: (022) 2201
· Instituto Agronomico Nacional Ruta No. II, Km. 48,5 Caacupe Cordillera Phone: 051-1255
