CIMMYT Report on wheat improvement 1981

Abstract

The global wheat situation in 1981 was characterized by a continuation of trends note in our introduction to the 1980 CIMMYT Report on Wheat Improvement. Wheat production in the developing countries of the world again approached record levels, nearly 158 million tons (Mt) in total. This high level of production was largely due to continuing progress in improving yields in South and East Asia; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal all harvested bumper crops, together producting about 50 Mt (some 14 percent above the 1978-80 combined average for these countries). In the Middle East, little change over the previous 3-year average was recorded, despite a slightly higher level of production on Turkey (about 17 Mt). Results in Latin America were mixed, with above average production levels in Mexico and Argentina, and reductions levels in Mexico and Argentina, and reductions in output by the remaining wheat-growing countries in the region. Despite near record lvels of production in the Third World, global trade in wheat achieved a new high in 1980/81, approximately 91 Mt. Developing countries continued their rapid increase in wheat imports, reaching a level of over 53 Mt (a 16 percent rise over the 1978-80 average). The geographic pattern of Third World imports was similar to that of the 1970s and coincides with those countries and regions in the developing world where the consuption of the wheat is rapidly expanding; the North Africa/Middle East regions and the tropical countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. China also raised its imports of wheat to nearly 13 Mt, come 32 percent above its previous 2-year average.