Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China

Abstract Based on FAO data, the production, harvested area and yield of nine major tropical crops such as natural rubber, cassava and banana in Asian countries in 2015 were analyzed to provide basic data for international cooperation and research on tropical crops.

Key words 2015, Asia, Tropical crops, Production

1 Introduction

The tropical area in China is small, and most tropical agricultural products rely on imports. The tropical area in the world is large, and tropical crops are mainly distributed in Southeast Asia and South Asia, the Atlantic countries of Central and West Africa, and the Amazon basin in South America[1]. Among them, Asia has abundant tropical crops, and it is one of the major production areas of tropical agricultural products in the world, especially the ASEAN countries, which are the major importers of China’s tropical agricultural products. In 2014, China’s natural rubber imports from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam accounted for 62.3%, 13.9%, 11.9% and 7.2% (a total of 95.2%) of its total natural rubber imports[2]. Since 2001, cassava starch imported from ASEAN countries accounts for more than 75% of China’s total imports. In 2010, imports of cassava starch from ASEAN countries accounted for 99.67% of China’s total imports[3]. Understanding the major tropical crop production profiles in Asian countries is of great significance for the international cooperation and research on tropical crops.

2 Overview of major tropical crop production in Asian countries

2.1NaturalrubberIn 2015, the total rubber production in Asia was 11.877 2 million t, accounting for 89.94% of the world’s total rubber production. The top three producers in Asia were Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, of which the production accounted for 37.60%, 26.48% and 8.35% of the total rubber production in Asia, respectively. The total harvested area of rubber in Asia was 10.193 0 million ha. The top three countries were Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, of which the harvested area accounted for 35.53%, 30.47% and 10.54% of the harvested area in Asia, respectively. The yield of rubber was highest in India, Philippines and Vietnam, in which the yield of rubber was 2 075.7, 1 788.6, and 1 675.8 kg/ha, respectively. The average yield of rubber in Asia was 1 165.2 kg/ha. The production of rubber in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 1.

Table1ProductionofrubberinAsiain2015

Countries and regionsThailandIndonesiaVietnamIndiaChina MainlandMalaysiaPhilippinesMyanmarSri LankaCambodiaBangladeshBruneiProduction∥104 t446.61341.54101.2895.0781.6171.2139.8120.8713.351.710.630.03Harvested area∥104 ha310.54362.1160.4345.8071.52107.4522.2628.1011.781.666.250.40Yield∥kg/ha1 481.10868.601 675.802 075.701 141.10672.001 788.60742.901 133.501 033.60100.8063.40

Note: Data source: FAO Database. The same below.

2.2CassavaIn 2015, the total output of cassava in Asia was 89.414 2 million t, accounting for 32.33% of the world’s total. In terms of output of cassava, the top three countries in Asia were Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, of which the output of cassava accounted for 36.19%, 24.38% and 12.01% of the Asia’s total, respectively. The total harvested area of cassava in Asia was

4.187 4 million ha. The top three countries were Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, of which the harvested area of cassava accounted for 34.24%, 22.68% and 13.56% of the harvested area in Asia, respectively. The yield of cassava was highest in Laos, Cambodia and Taiwan, with 31.57, 25.54, and 25.21 t/ha, respectively. The average yield of cassava in Asia was 21.35 t/ha. The production of cassava in Asian countries and regions is shown in Table 2.

2.3BananaIn 2015, the total harvested area of bananas in Asia was 2.240 3 million ha, with a production of 63.458 0 million t, accounting for 55.07% of the world’s total banana production. Considering the production of banana, the top three countries and regions in Asia were India, China Mainland and Indonesia, of which the banana production accounted for 46.05%, 19.64% and 14.96% of the total banana production in Asia, respectively, and the banana harvested area accounted for 36.69%, 18.26% and 8.36% of the total banana harvested area in Asia, respectively. The yield of banana was highest in Jordan, Indonesia and Israel, with 52.45, 50.69, and 47.70 t/ha, respectively. The average yield of banana in Asia was 28.33 t/ha. The production of banana in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 3.

Table2ProductionofcassavainAsiain2015

Countries and regionsThailandIndonesiaVietnamCambodiaChinaMainlandIndiaPhilippinesLaosMyanmarSriLankaMalaysiaEastTimorTaiwan,ChinaBruneiProduction∥104 t3 235.772 180.141 074.00941.07 475.55 437.30 271.09 238.25 46.05 30.61 6.77 2.83 1.66 0.32 Harvested area∥104 ha143.38 94.99 56.80 36.85 28.89 20.80 22.30 7.55 3.62 2.35 0.40 0.71 0.07 0.02 Yield∥t/ha22.60 23.00 18.90 25.50 16.50 21.00 12.20 31.60 12.70 13.00 16.80 4.00 25.20 17.20

Table3ProductionofbananainAsiain2015

Countries and regionsIndiaChina MainlandIndonesiaPhilippinesVietnamThailandLaosBangladeshMalaysiaTaiwan, ChinaProduction∥104 t2 922.101 246.60949.61 584.01 194.33 103.25 78.70 77.74 31.55 27.41 Harvested area∥104 ha82.20 40.91 18.73 44.34 11.81 3.81 2.77 4.67 3.07 1.41 Yield∥t/ha35.50 30.50 50.70 13.20 16.50 27.10 28.40 16.60 10.30 19.40 Countries and regionsTurkeyNepalCambodiaIranYemenPakistanIsraelLebanonJordanOmanProduction∥104 t27.05 23.43 14.05 13.06 12.58 11.80 11.40 9.21 4.68 1.66 Harvested area∥104 ha0.58 1.43 3.18 0.43 0.99 2.82 0.24 0.30 0.09 0.14 Yield∥t/ha46.30 16.40 4.40 30.40 12.70 4.20 47.70 31.00 52.40 11.70

2.4CoconutIn 2015, the total harvested area of coconut in Asia was 9.735 4 million ha, with a production of 49.235 6 million t, accounting for 83.11% of the world’s total coconut production. In terms of coconut production, the top three countries in Asia were Indonesia, Philippines and India, of which the coconut production accounted for 33.72%, 29.93%, and 22.77% of the total coconut production in Asia, respectively, and the coconut harvested area accounted for 31.12%, 36.13% and 22.23% of the Asia’s total, respectively. The yield of coconut was highest in Myanmar, Vietnam and China Mainland, with 10.75, 9.88, and 9.58 t/ha, respectively. The average yield of coconut in Asia was 5.06 t/ha. The production of coconut in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 4.

Table4ProductionofcoconutinAsiain2015

Countries and regionsIndonesiaPhilippinesIndiaSri LankaVietnamThailandMyanmarMalaysiaProduction∥104 t1 660.001 473.521 120.96284.36 143.91 90.41 51.96 50.56 Harvested area∥104 ha303.00 351.77 216.40 45.33 14.56 19.15 4.84 8.20 Yield∥t/ha5.50 4.20 5.20 6.30 9.90 4.70 10.70 6.20 Countries and regionsChina MainlandBangladeshCambodiaTaiwan, ChinaPakistanEast TimorBruneiNepalProduction∥104 t27.77 9.48 6.50 2.10 1.00 0.91 0.04 0.04 Harvested area∥104 ha2.90 4.30 1.23 0.23 0.15 1.42 0.02 0.02 Yield∥t/ha9.60 2.20 5.30 9.30 6.70 0.60 1.80 2.00

2.5SisalIn 2015, the total harvested area of sisal in Asia was 2 795.0 ha and the output was 12 991.0 t, accounting for only 4.27% of the total sisal production in the world. The countries and regions with high to low production were China Mainland, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan, of which the coconut production accounted for 97.05%, 2.80%, 0.12% and 0.02% of the total coconut production in Asia, respectively, and the harvested area accounted for 87.12%, 11.23%, 1.54% and 0.07% of the Asia’s total, respectively. The yield of sisal was highest in China Mainland, 5.18 t/ha. In Asia, the average yield of sisal was 4.65 t/ha. The production of sisal in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 5.

Table5ProductionofsisalinAsiain2015

Countries and regionsChina MainlandIndonesiaThailandTaiwan, ChinaProduction∥ t12 608.00364.00 16.00 3.00 Harvested area∥ha2 435.00314.00 43.00 2.00 Yield∥t/ha5.18 1.16 0.37 1.33

2.6SugarcaneIn 2015, the total harvested area of sugarcane in Asia was 10.899 5 million ha, with a production of 735.898 9 million t, accounting for 39.00% of the world’s total production. In terms of sugarcane production, the top three countries and regions in Asia were India, China Mainland and Thailand, of which the sugarcane production accounted for 49.24%, 15.89% and 12.79% of the Asia’s total sugarcane production, respectively, and the harvested area accounted for 46.52%, 14.68% and 12.85% of the Asia’s total sugarcane harvested area, respectively. The yield of sugarcane was highest in Iran, China Mainland and India, with 84.98, 73.12 and 71.47 t/ha, respectively. In Asia, the average yield of sugarcane was 67.52 t/ha. The production of sugarcane in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 6.

Table6ProductionofsugarcaneinAsiain2015

Countries and regionsIndiaChina Mainland Thailand Pakistan Indonesia Philippines Vietnam MyanmarProduction∥104 t36 233.3011 696.809 413.856 548.232 534.872 292.641 833.721 014.24Harvested area∥104 ha507.00159.97140.07113.1545.5842.1328.4316.19Yield∥t/ha71.5073.1067.2057.9055.6054.4064.5062.70Countries and regions Iran Bangladesh Nepal Laos Japan Sri LankaTaiwan, China CambodiaProduction∥104 t740.70443.41306.30201.87126.0071.8766.4957.87Harvested area∥104 ha8.7210.426.663.612.341.700.952.60Yield∥t/ha85.0042.5046.0055.9053.8042.2070.2022.30

2.7CoffeeIn 2015, the total harvested area of coffee in Asia was 2.597 4 million ha, with a production of 2.823 1 t, accounting for 31.76% of the world’s total coffee production. In terms of coffee production, the top three countries in Asia were Vietnam, Indonesia and India, of which the coffee production accounted for 51.47%, 22.65% and 11.72% of the Asia’s total coffee production, respectively, and the coffee harvested area accounted for 22.86%, 47.36% and 14.86% of the Asia’s total coffee harvested area, respectively. The yield of coffee was highest in China Mainland, Malaysia and Vietnam, with 2.74, 2.51, and 2.45 t/ha, respectively. In Asia, the average yield of coffee was 1.09 t/ha. The production of coffee in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 7.

Table7ProductionofcoffeeinAsiain2015

Countries and regionsVietnamIndonesiaIndiaLaosChinaMainlandPhilippinesThailandYemenEastTimorMyanmarSriLankaMalaysiaNepalCambodiaProduction∥104 t145.30 63.94 33.10 13.59 11.37 7.23 2.61 1.93 1.08 0.83 0.66 0.59 0.05 0.04 Harvested area∥104 ha59.38 123.00 38.60 7.75 4.16 11.37 4.02 3.40 5.41 1.17 0.95 0.24 0.24 0.05 Yield∥t/ha2.45 0.52 0.86 1.75 2.74 0.64 0.65 0.57 0.20 0.71 0.69 2.51 0.19 0.80

2.8CocoaIn 2015, the total harvested area of cocoa in Asia was 1.823 0 million ha, with a production of 618 900 t, accounting for 14.05% of the world’s total cocoa production. In Asia, Indonesia had the highest output and the largest harvested area, which accounted for 95.86% and 93.76% of the Asia’s totals, respectively. The production of cocoa in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 8.

Table8ProductionofcocoainAsiain2015

Countries and regionsIndonesiaIndiaPhilippinesMalaysiaSri LankaEast TimorProduction∥104 t59.33 1.60 0.60 0.17 0.15 0.02 Harvested area∥104 ha170.93 7.80 1.39 1.81 0.19 0.17 Yield∥kg/ha347.10 205.10 433.00 95.40 814.10 96.40

2.9PepperIn 2015, the total harvested area of pepper in Asia was 443 100 ha, with a production of 421 100 t, accounting for 82.78% of the world’s total pepper production. In Asia, in terms of pepper production, the top three countries were Vietnam, Indonesia and India, of which the pepper production accounted for 41.99%, 19.35%, and 15.44% of the Asia’s total pepper production, respectively, and the harvested area accounted for 15.30%, 37.82% and 29.11% of the Asia’s total pepper harvested area, respectively. Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam showed the highest yield, 6 472.70, 3 193.20, and 2 605.90 kg/ha, respectively. The average yield of pepper in Asia was 950.50 kg/ha. The production of pepper in Asian countries and regions was shown in Table 9.

Table9ProductionofpepperinAsiain2015

Countries and regionsVietnamIndonesiaIndiaChina MainlandSri LankaMalaysiaCambodiaPhilippinesThailandProduction∥104 t17.68 8.15 6.50 3.39 2.89 2.83 0.25 0.18 0.14 Harvested area∥104 ha6.78 16.76 12.90 1.79 4.11 1.63 0.04 0.17 0.04 Yield∥kg/ha2 605.90486.30 503.90 1 888.20703.50 1 732.706 472.701 094.803 193.20

3 Conclusions

Countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India and China are the major tropical crop producers in Asia. In 2015, the cocoa and coconut production in Indonesia was the highest, the rubber, cassava, sisal, coffee and pepper production ranked second, the banana production ranked third, and the sugarcane production ranked fifth in Asia. The rubber and cassava production in Thailand ranked first, and the sisal and sugarcane production ranked third in Asia. The coffee and pepper production in Vietnam was the highest in Asia, the rubber and cassava production ranked third, and the banana and coconut production ranked fifth. The sugarcane and banana production in India ranked first in Asia, the cocoa production ranked second, the coffee, coconut and pepper production ranked the third, and the rubber production ranked the fourth in Asia. The sisal production in China was the highest in Asia, the banana and sugarcane production ranked second, the pepper production ranked fourth, and the rubber, cassava and coffee production ranked fifth.

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