Manejo estratégico y producción competitiva del arroz con riego en América Latina

Strategic management and competitive production of irrigated rice in Latin America Six strategic rice crop management practices, designed to increase the competitiveness of rice production in Latin America and the Caribbean, are described: (1) strategic planting date; (2) optimum planting density; (3) pest control (diseases and harmful insects); (4) balanced fertilization; (5) integrated early weed control; and (6) strategic and efficient irrigation water management. If these practices are applied in an integrated and precise manner, rice yields will increase significantly without increasing production costs per hectare; in other words, crop competiveness will improve. In general, this strategy focuses on the identification of improved crop management practices and their transfer to farmers.