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$Unique_ID{COW00164}
$Pretitle{273}
$Title{Argentina
Chapter 3D. Crops}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Robert S. North}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{percent
production
tons
million
output
declined
total
increased
prices
fish}
$Date{1987}
$Log{}
Country: Argentina
Book: Argentina, A Country Study
Author: Robert S. North
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date: 1987
Chapter 3D. Crops
Numerous and diverse crops were cultivated for both domestic consumption
and export. The two most important crop groups included cereals and oilseeds,
which together accounted for almost 90 percent of the country's total
agricultural export volume and 70 percent of the export value in 1983. The
total production of both commodity groups increased from 34.8 million tons in
1980 to about 43.4 million tons in 1984. The government set an annual
production goal of 60 million tons of cereals and oilseeds to be met by the
end of the 1980s.
The total production of cereals increased from 29 million tons in 1980 to
33 million in 1982, then dropped to 30 million in 1983, and recovered to 32.4
million tons in 1984. Wheat, corn, sorghum, and oats constituted almost 97
percent of total cereal production during the 1980-84 period, while barley,
rye, millet, and milled rice constituted the remaining 3 percent.
Between 1980 and 1984 wheat averaged about 37 percent of total cereal
production. The output of wheat declined by 4 percent from 1979 to 1980, to
7.8 million tons, because a severe drought diminished yields as well as the
areas harvested (see table 5, Appendix). Output expanded by 7 percent in 1981
because of improved prices at planting time and the need for cash by
financially strapped farmers, and by 81 percent, to 15 million tons, in 1982
as a result of a 46-percent increase in average yields and a 23-percent rise
in harvested area. In 1983 output fell by 18 percent as the harvested area
declined and wheat yields returned to more than normal levels. Production in
1984 was estimated to have increased by 7 percent, largely as the result of
record yields caused by the wider application of fertilizers and almost ideal
weather conditions. An average of about 66 percent of the wheat crop was
produced in the province of Buenos Aires. Other important provinces that
produced wheat included Santa Fe, 15 percent; Cordoba, 10 percent; La Pampa,
6 percent; and Entre Rios, 2 percent. Less than 1 percent was grown in other
provinces. About 5 million tons of wheat a year was consumed domestically
in the early 1980s, of which 96 percent was converted into wheat flour at
approximately 75 wheat milling plants, and 4 percent was used as feed for
livestock.
Between 1980 and 1984 corn averaged about 34 percent of the total volume
of cereals that were produced in the country. Corn output from 1979 to 1980
jumped by over 100 percent to 12.9 million tons, reflecting record yields.
During the next three years corn production dropped by almost 29 percent as
yields declined and producers increasingly shifted to oilseeds because of
their higher profitability. In 1984 corn production rose by more than 19
percent to 11 million tons, a gain that stemmed from a wider use of
drought-resistant hybrid seeds. Approximately 43 percent of the total corn
crop was produced in the province of Buenos Aires. Other leading producers
included the provinces of Cordoba, with 27 percent of the total, and Santa
Fe, with 13 percent. Output in the province of San Luis made up 7 percent; La
Pampa, 3 percent; Entre Rios, 1 percent; and other provinces, the remaining 6
percent. An average of about 6.6 million tons of corn were consumed
domestically each year, of which about 48 percent was used for livestock feed.
The production of rice fluctuated in response to adverse weather
conditions and the attractiveness of prices. The production of paddy rice
ranged from a low of 277,000 tons to a high of 338,000 tons over the 1980-84
period. Approximately 65 percent of the paddy rice was converted into milled
rice. From a level of 186,000 tons in 1980, the production of milled rice
increased by 13 percent in 1981, dropped by 14 percent in 1982, jumped by 71
percent in 1983, and declined by 16 percent in 1984.
About 24 percent of total cereal cultivation was sorghum. Despite record
yields in 1980, the production of sorghum reached only 7.1 million tons as a
result of a serious drought that adversely affected the crop. In 1981 output
reached a record of 8 million tons, as part of the area that had been intended
for corn was switched to sorghum. Output declined by 15 percent over the
succeeding three years because of a general dissatisfaction with low prices.
On average, about 33 percent of the sorghum was produced in the province of
Cordoba. Buenos Aires Province was the second leading producer with 19 percent
of the total. Santa Fe Province accounted for 15 percent; La Pampa, 9 percent;
Entre Rios, 7 percent; Chaco, 6 percent; Santiago del Estero, 6 percent; and a
combination of other provinces, the remaining 5 percent. Sorghum was primarily
used as a feed for livestock during the winter. In recent years an average of
about 2.6 million tons were used as feed. Hybrid sorghum seeds were developed
to be resistant to birds in order to prevent large preharvest losses.
Consequently, it could not be used as a feed source for the large poultry
flocks.
Oats were less than 2 percent of the total output of cereals during the
1980-84 period. After a record 676,000 tons were attained in 1978, the
production of oats declined to only 339,000 tons in 1981. Output jumped by 88
percent in 1982, declined by 7 percent in 1983, and increased slightly in
1984. Output performance tended to mirror the depressed conditions that
prevailed in the livestock sector because oats were primarily used as a feed
source. In addition, over 70 percent of the area devoted to the cultivation of
oats was used as pasture by livestock. In cold weather the oat fields were
overgrazed, which in turn reduced output. In warmer weather livestock were
pulled off the fields to graze on natural grasslands. An average of about 54
percent of the crop was used as a food source, and the remainder was consumed
by humans; none was exported. Barley, rye, and millet declined from their high
output levels in the 1970s in conjunction with depressed conditions in the
livestock sector.
Between 1980 and 1984 the production of oilseeds increased from a total
of 5.8 million tons to 11 million tons. A large part of the reason for the
expansion of output was the increased planting of soybeans. About 60 percent
of the total output of oilseeds was devoted to the cultivation of soybeans.
Sunflower seeds were the second leading oilseed crop, with a 26-percent share
of total output, while flaxseed was the third. Peanuts and cottonseeds
constituted the remaining 6 percent.
Despite good yields in 1980, the soybean crop was adversely affected by
severe weather conditions. Output consequently declined by 2.8 percent in 1980
over 1979 levels. In 1981 production increased by almost 19 percent to 4.2
million tons in response to favorable weather conditions. In 1982 output fell
by 3.5 percent. In 1983 production climbed by 65 percent as a result of record
yields and generally favorable weather. Ideal weather prompted an equivalent
output level in 1984. Approximately 42 percent of the soybean crop was
produced in the province of Santa Fe in 1984. Cordoba Province was the second
leading producer, with a 29-percent share, followed by the province of Buenos
Aires, which accounted for 23 percent. Marginal producers included the
provinces of Tucuman, with 3 percent, and Sanla, with 1 percent.
The sunflower seed crop declined by 24 percent in 1980 as a result of
adverse weather conditions and low prices. In 1981 favorable weather and a
20-percent increase in yield caused a record-setting 52-percent increase in
output. Continued good weather and record yields resulted in a 16-per