The Impact of Mungbean Research in China

produced in China were mungbeans; in 2000, 19%of all pulses grown were mungbeans. In 1986, 35%of all dry beans grown were mungbeans; in 2000the share rose to 66%.In the 1990s, the scale of total mungbean productionwas enhanced based on achievements inresearch. In 2000, the total area under mungbeanwas nearly 772,000 ha, the total production was891,000 tons, and the average yield went up to 1154kg/ha. Between 1986 and 2000 the total productionof mungbean increased with an average annualgrowth rate of 2.4%. This is largely due to thegrowth in yield (1.7% annually), and to a lesserextent to an increase in area grown (0.7% annually).This is comparable to soybean, the most importantpulse in China, which has shown annualgrowth rates of 2.9% in total production, 2.2% inyield, and 0.7% in area grown.Mungbean production in China has been influencedby several factors. Firstly, China’s capacityof grain production has improved substantially dueto market reforms. The total grain production surpassed400 million tons, 450 million tons and 500million tons in 1987, 1993 and 1996 respectively(Fig. 3). With the exception of year 2000 when poorweather reduced yields, the production of grain andother major agricultural products has been maintainedat a relatively high level since 1996. An overallbalanced supply-and-demand pattern for agriculturalproducts has been formed, and currently abuyer’s market emerges, which marks the beginningof a new historical era of agricultural productionfrom quantity to quality. Households’ incomeshave risen steadily. During 1996–2000, the annualgrowth rate of urban households’ income was 6.2%and the annual growth rate of rural households’ incomewas 3.7%. Living standards have increased,in turn enhancing the demand for higher qualityfoods such as mungbean.Secondly, mungbean production is highly dependenton the price ratio between mungbean and600000Average annual growth = 1.9%500000400000Production (1000 MT)30000020000010000001986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000Fig. 3. Total grain output in China, 1986–2000Source: Ministry of Agriculture of China (2001).7