Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

2.3 Yield Per Hectare of Agricultural CropsTable 3 shows the average yield per hectare of agricultural crops. The average yieldper hectare of rice and corn is low at 2.6-2.9 metric tonnes per hectare and 1.2-1.6 metrictonnes per hectare, respectively. There is a continuous decline in the yield of sugar cane.From a high of 81.8 metric tonnes per hectare in 1989 this decreased to only 52.5 metrictonnes per hectare in 1998, a decrease of about 35 percent.The average yield of mango and rubber is increasing. In mango, the average yieldincreased from a mere 5 metric tonnes per hectare in 1989-1992 to 10 metric tonnes perhectare in 1997-1998. Rubber yield increased from a low of 1.99 metric tonnes in 1989 to2.44 metric tonnes in 1998.2.4 Share of Crops in National Agricultural GDP and TradeFrom 1992 to 1996, agriculture contributed 20.93-22.28 percent of the GDP. Lateststatistics show that in 1994-1998 (BAS, 1999) the Philippine economy grew by an averageof 4.55 percent in terms of GNP or 3.92 percent in terms of GDP. The country’s economicperformance before 1998 had real growth in GDP from 4.39-5.85 percent. The regionalcurrency crisis and adverse weather conditions in 1997-1998 greatly affected the economy.From Table 4, it is evident that the percent share of agriculture to GNP is decreasingboth at current and constant prices. The Gross Value Added in agriculture has beenincreasing (Table 5). However, the crops sector posted negative growth in 1990 and 1998,that is, -0.78 and -12.86, respectively.2.5 Trade of Crop ProductsTable 6 presents the agricultural foreign trade statistics from 1989 to 1998. The valueof agricultural imports was lower than the value of exports from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to1998, however, the reverse can be noted.The volume of sugar exported is on the decline. This can be attributed to decreasingarea devoted to sugar production, lower production per unit area and high production cost.Likewise, decreasing export volumes of desiccated coconut, coffee and copra are evident.However, increasing export volumes can be noted in coconut oil, copra oil and banana.3. PATTERNS OF CROP DIVERSIFICATIONWith growing population, urbanization and industrialization, the area devoted to cropproduction has been declining. As a result, new strategies were formulated and cropdiversification is one of these. As a strategy, crop diversification maximizes the use of landand optimizes farm productivity and incomes.There are several factors associated with crop diversification. According to Gonzales(1989), the adoption of crop diversification schemes is dictated by both physical andeconomic factors. Physical factors include land capability, rainfall patterns, water quality,crop suitability and technology. Economic factors, on the other hand, include costs, prices,97