Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
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COLOMBIA faces both <strong>the</strong> Pacific Ocean and <strong>the</strong> Caribbean Sea. It is located b<strong>et</strong>ween 4° S<br />
and 12° N latitude and 68° and 78° W longitude. Colombia spans four AEZs: AEZ 1, warm arid<br />
and semiarid tropics; AEZ 2, warm subhumid tropics; AEZ 3, warm humid tropics; and AEZ 4,<br />
cool tropics. The climate in <strong>the</strong> coast<strong>al</strong> lands is tropic<strong>al</strong> with high rainf<strong>al</strong>l; <strong>the</strong> Pacific coast<br />
represents one of <strong>the</strong> <strong>most</strong> humid regions in <strong>the</strong> world. The highlands, where major cities are<br />
located, have a ra<strong>the</strong>r temperate climate.<br />
The population in 1999 was 41.6 million, 72% of whom live in urban areas. Employment<br />
follows <strong>the</strong> same trend as population distribution, with 70% of <strong>the</strong> labor <strong>for</strong>ce being urban.<br />
The major <strong>source</strong>s of employment are agriculture (30%) and manufacturing (13%). Agriculture<br />
contributed 19% to GDP in 1999.<br />
Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 6,060<br />
• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 1,070<br />
km 3<br />
• Main food consumed: sugar and honey, rice,<br />
maize, oil and fat, meat<br />
• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 29.3 kg milled rice<br />
per person per year<br />
Production constraints<br />
There are sever<strong>al</strong> constraints to sustainable rice<br />
production in Colombia:<br />
• High production costs and shrinking loc<strong>al</strong><br />
mark<strong>et</strong> because of a reduction in nation<strong>al</strong><br />
consumption<br />
• Blast, rice hoja blanca virus, crinkling or<br />
entorchamiento virus, Rhynchosporium,<br />
Helminthosporium<br />
• Weed and red rice comp<strong>et</strong>ition<br />
• Infertile and <strong>al</strong>uminum-toxic soil in upland<br />
rice areas of eastern plains<br />
• Yield potenti<strong>al</strong> of irrigated rice vari<strong>et</strong>ies has<br />
reached a plateau<br />
Production season<br />
Planting Harvesting<br />
Summer season Mar-Apr Jul-Aug<br />
Winter season Aug-Oct Jan-Mar<br />
146 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac