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Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

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ECUADOR, on <strong>the</strong> tropic<strong>al</strong> Pacific coast of South America, is a sm<strong>al</strong>l country of 12.4 million<br />

(1999), extending from coast<strong>al</strong> plains where <strong>most</strong> of <strong>the</strong> population lives and where cash<br />

crops, including rice, are grown to mountainous regions in which agriculture is more at a<br />

subsistence level. Fully one-third of <strong>the</strong> work<strong>for</strong>ce is agricultur<strong>al</strong>; arable land constitutes<br />

about 6% of <strong>the</strong> land area and agriculture accounts <strong>for</strong> 14% of <strong>the</strong> GDP.<br />

Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 2,910<br />

• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 314 km 3<br />

• Main food consumed: oil and fat, rice, sugar<br />

and honey, maize, wheat<br />

• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 50.5 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 Ecuador:<br />

• Irrigation infrastructure is still weak<br />

• Inadequate equipment <strong>for</strong> land preparation<br />

and harvesting<br />

• Insufficient control of water in rainfed areas<br />

• Blast, hoja blanca virus<br />

• Weed comp<strong>et</strong>ition and insects<br />

• Reduction in public support <strong>for</strong> rice research<br />

and extension activities<br />

• Underdeveloped private seed industry<br />

Production season<br />

Planting Harvesting<br />

Winter season Dec-Feb Apr-Jun<br />

Summer season May-Jul Sep-Dec<br />

156 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac

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