This is the nineteenth issue of the publication Selected indicators of food and agriculture development in Asia-Pacific region. It presents data on selected items for the years 1991-2002, except some tables that provide information for the period 1990-2000. Most tables show two types of information: annual figures for 1991, 1998,1999, 2000 and 2001 and the exponential growth rate for the period 1991-2001. The indicators are grouped under the following headings: Agricultural land and population, Agricultural inputs, Production indices, Staple food crops, Edible oil crops, Horticultural crops, Fibre crops, Other crops, Livestock, Agricultural trade, Fisheries, Forestry, Nutrition and Other indicators.
Countries of the region are shown under two groups: "Developing countries" and "Developed countries". For comparison purposes, figures relating to "Rest of world" and "World" are also presented. Data for new member countries in the region were not available for inclusion in this year's publication but will be part of subsequent issues.
For almost all commodity tables, data are retrieved from the FAO computerized data base, especially FAOSTAT, or from the FAO Yearbooks. These, in turn, are based on information supplied by member countries.
The growth rates shown in the present publication have been worked out using the exponential growth method to indicate the overall regional performance and also to highlight inter-country differences.
Various units of FAO including the Statistics Division and the Information System and Technology Division have cooperated with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in the preparation of this publication, providing computer programmes and data bases for the production of tables. This collaboration is duly acknowledged.
He Changchui
Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific
Bangkok, October 2002
