Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.2
Production of selected vegetables (million metric tons) in major geographical areas of the world
North and Central
Commodity
Africa
Asia
China
India
Europe
America
USSR
World
Asparagus
—
5.98
5.90
—
0.25
0.17
—
6.65
Avocados
0.38
0.45
<
0.1
—
<
0.1
1.5
—
3.22
Cabbage
1.77
50.16
34.10
6.00
6.32
2.99
7.59
69.48
Cauliflower
0.30
13.04
7.38
4.80
2.11
0.64
—
16.36
Carrot
1.13
10.71
8.39
0.35
5.16
2.38
3.19
23.90
<
Green chillies
and peppers
2.20
16.31
12.53
0.1
2.72
3.05
0.20
24.98
Cucumbers
and gherkins
1.05
33.01
26.56
0.12
4.62
2.11
3.12
41.74
Eggplant
1.41
28.22
17.03
8.2
0.6
0.1
0.1
30.51
Lettuce
0.27
13.21
11.00
0.79
3.15
5.37
—
22.38
Onions (dry)
5.12
35.30
19.04
5.50
5.57
4.35
3.56
57.59
Potato
15.39
125.71
73.77
25.00
65.16
26.53
73.72
321.97
Sweet potato
11.47
114.99
107.67
0.90
—
1.47
—
129.88
FAO Statistics (2005).
flowers (50%), plants (41%), bulbs (9%), and cut foliage (9%). Over 70% of the production
of floriculture crops is concentrated in seven countries: the Netherlands, Columbia, Italy,
Belgium, Denmark, the United States, and Ecuador. The Netherlands is the flower capital of
the world, with over 50% of world trade (2000 estimate, www.agf.gov.bc.ca/ornamentals;
British Columbia, 2003) in floriculture products that include produce grown within the
Netherlands (farm gate value of US$5.4 billion), as well as floriculture products that are
imported and marketed again to various destinations. Columbia was the second largest ex-
porter with an estimated trade at 7.5%, and the rest of the flower-producing countries having
export components of 2-3% each. The major flower markets (70%) include Germany, the
United States, Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Japan. In the United States and Canada,
the production has shifted from flowers such as carnations, chrysanthemums, and roses to
speciality cut flowers such as gerbera,
Lizianthus
, snapdragons, and
Alstroemeria
that are rel-
atively more difficult to grow and transport. Also, the cultivation of potted ornamentals is on
the rise. According to USDA (2002) estimates, there were over 8,000 ha in floriculture pro-
duction with a wholesale value estimated at US$4.88 billion. A similar estimate by Statistics
Canada (2002) provides a value of Canadian $1.4 billion for Canadian floriculture products.
Flower production has become an important agricultural segment in some Asiatic coun-
tries. Again, on a per capita basis, Israel dominates the scene with an estimated 2,750 ha in
2005 (S. Meir, personal communication) and an estimated value of US$250 million. China
had nearly 60,000 ha in flower and foliage crop production and India had nearly 35,000 ha
according to 1994 estimates, which has expanded recently to include greenhouse production
and marketing to the Middle East. Australia and New Zealand are the principal suppliers
of floriculture products to Pacific Rim countries and Japan.
1.4 Postharvest loss of fruits, vegetables, and flowers
By virtue of their physiological properties, most fruits, vegetables, and flowers are highly
perishable commodities. Postharvest losses can occur at any point in the production and
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