90 BULLETIN 1409, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 
Paraguay has good soils, a semitropical climate, and abundant 
rainfall in the eastern two-thirds of the country. Of the total area 
less than one-fifth of 1 per cent has ever been cultivated, although 
approximately 58 per cent of the total area is prairie. Making due 
allowance for broken and heavily-wooded country, and for rivers, 
swamps, and semiarid regions not adapted to agriculture, it is be- 
lieved that at least 32,000,000 acres of prairie and 18,000,000 acres 
of sparsely-wooded land, or a total of 50,000,000 acres, is well adapted 
to agricultural crops and livestock. 
In other words, the crop areas and production of Paraguay can be 
readily increased many times whenever population, transportation, 
and marketing facilities are available. The crops most likely to be 
increased are cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar cane, corn, peanuts, man- 
dioca, and citrus and tropical fruits. A considerable area will prob- 
ably go into yerba mate groves, as the present production comes 
almost entirely from wild trees. The natural resources of the country 
are great and valuable, especially its well-watered fertile prairies and 
large areas of hardwood trees. 
The principal drawbacks are lack of railways and good roads, 
distance to markets, and high freight rates, a sparse population, a 
hot-summer climate and many insect pests, primitive conditions of 
life and low standard of living, and lack of stability in the govern- 
ment. Except distance to markets and the hot-summer climate, 
most of these adverse conditions will greatly improve or disappear 
with increase of population, of production, and of prosperity. The 
present state of development and appearance of the country is similar 
to portions of the United States a century or more ago. To those who 
enjoy a primitive mode of life in an undeveloped country of great 
natural resources, Paraguay offers many attractions and opportuni- 
ties. 
SOURCES OF INFORMATION RELATING TO PARAGUAY 
The Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United States Department of Agri- 
culture, Washington, D. C, for statistics of agriculture and livestock produc- 
tion, exports and imports, crop reports and economic data with respect to po- 
tential agricultural production. 
The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, United States Department 
of Commerce, Washington, D. C, for statistics of manufactures, trade and 
commerce. 
The Consular Bureau, United States Department of State, Washington, D. C, 
for information concerning the laws and regulations governing immigration, 
travel, imports, tariffs, and business licenses. 
The Pan American Union, Washington, D. C, for descriptive material, sta- 
tistics, and general information concerning Paraguay. 
The American consul, Asuncion, Paraguay, for the latest information relative 
to any particular subject, industry, person, or business firm in Paraguay. 
