Climate Change 2001:
Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
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11.2.2. Agriculture and Food Security

11.2.2.1. Production Systems

Asia has the world's largest area under cereal cultivation and is the largest producer of staple foods (FAO, 1999a). Present crop yields in Asia are comparable to those in Europe and South America. Within Asia, India has the largest area under cereal cultivation. The total production of cereals in China is twice that of India, as a result of higher average productivity (FAO, 1999a). Most land that is suitable for cultivation is already in use; by 2010 per capita availability of land in developing countries of Asia will shrink from the present 0.8 ha to about 0.3 ha. Table 11-4 depicts the growth rate of rice cultivation area in select Asian countries. Current rates of land degradation suggest that a further 1.8 million km2 of farmland could become unproductive in Asia by 2050, adding stress to a system that must ensure food security in the context of a rapidly growing population.

Table 11-4: Changes in area under rice cultivation in select Asian countries, 1979-1999 (FAO, 1999a).
Country Period Total Rice Cultivation Area (103 ha) Change in Rice Cultivation Area (103 ha) Rate of Change in Rice Cultivation Area (ha yr-1)
Bangladesh 1979 10,160 310 14,762
  1999 10,470    
         
Cambodia 1979 774 1,187 56,524
  1999 1,961    
         
China 1979 34,560 -2,840 -135,238
  1999 31,720    
         
India 1979 39,414 3,586 170,762
  1999 43,000    
         
Indonesia 1979 8,804 2,820 134,286
  1999 11,624    
         
Malaysia 1979 738 -93 -4,429
  1999 645    
         
Myanmar 1979 4,442 1,016 48,381
  1999 5,458    
         
Nepal 1979 1,254 260 12,381
  1999 1,514    
         
Sri Lanka 1979 790 39 1,857
  1999 829    
         
Pakistan 1979 2,035 365 17,381
  1999 2,400    
         
Philippines 1979 3,637 341 16,238
  1999 3,978    
         
Thailand Thailand 8,654 1,346 64,095
  1999 10,000    
         
Vietnam 1979 5,485 2,163 103,000
  1999 7,648    

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