44 Aghciiliural Research and Produciivily 



yield data for all major producing countries are summarized in ta- 

 ble 3.4, over several time periods. Production per acre has risen 

 markedly, over time, in almost all producing countries. Two ex- 

 ceptions to the trend stand out. Cuba, the only major producing 

 country failing to develop a substantial research capability, has 

 actually experienced declining yields since the 1920s. For a num- 

 ber of reasons, Java has also experienced yield declines since the 

 1930s. 



While yields are not ideal indicators of total factor productivity, 

 they serve reasonably well as a measure in sugarcane for a num- 

 ber of reasons. Fertilizer has not been used extensively until re- 

 cent years, and although cultivating practices have changed in a 

 number of countries, yields have probably not been affected 

 greatly. During most of the period since 1910 changes in yields 

 have changed as a consequence of varietal change. 



Table 3.3: Varietal Production of Various Sugarcane Experiment Stations, 1940-64 



Source: Yearbook of Agriculture. USDA, US Government Printing Office, Wash- 

 ington, DC. 1936, pp. 561-624. Proceedings of the Twelfth Congress. International 

 Society of Sugarcane Technologists, N.Y., 1967, pp. 844-54. Agricultural Statistics, 

 USDA, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, various issues, 

 a. Total production in millions of short tons of 96% sugar, 1940-64. 



