COMCEC Agriculture Outlook 2016
30
At the sub-regional level, the use of fertilizer in African Group Countries was very low
with 12.3 kg/hectare in 2013. On the other hand, the use of fertilizer in Arab Group Countries
and Asian Group Countries is 78.2 kg/hectare and 112.0 kg/hectare, respectively.
Figure 24. Fertilizer Use in the OIC by Sub-Regions (2013)
Source: Calculated by using Worldbank Data and FAOSTAT
2.6. Mechanization
The ratio of number of tractor per 1,000 hectares of arable land in the OIC countries
declined to 6.9 in 2008 from 9.8 in 2002. This reduction shows that 1,000 hectares of arable
land needed to be harvested by 6.9 tractors in 2008, instead of 9.8 in 2002. Even though the
number of tractors used increased in the OIC countries between 2002 and 2008, increase in
the arable land area was higher. Hence, this situation leads to a decrease in the ratio of number
of tractor used in arable land in the OIC.
Developed countries and other developing countries also experienced a similar
reduction in this ratio. As of 2008, the world average was 4.8 and the average of other
developing countries was 1.72. In other words, compared with other developing countries and
the world average, the OIC Countries are in a better position collectively in terms of tractor
use. Nevertheless, the OIC Countries still have insufficient agricultural mechanization relative
to developed countries group in which the ratio is calculated as 10. Therefore, considering that
the same area of arable land is harvested by 6.9 tractors in the OIC countries compared to 10
tractors in developed countries, the use of agricultural machinery in the OIC Countries needs
to be improved.16
16 SESRIC, 2014
5,6 6,2
12,3
64,3 64,8
78,2
84,4
106,2
112,0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2003 2008 2013 2003 2008 2013 2003 2008 2013
African Group Arab Group Asian Group
kg/ha