DATA ON FIBER CROPS IN CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200270-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2011
• Sequence Number: 270
• Publication Date: December 28, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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COUNTRY China
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD
CLASSIFICATION C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RE
HOW
PUBLISHED Monograph
WHERE
PUBLISHED shanghai
DATE
PUBLISHED Nov 1953
LANGUAGE Chinese
SUBJECT Economic - Agriculture, fiber crops, ramie,
flax, lute, hemp, ambary, abutilon
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DATA ON FIBER CROPS IN CHINA
[Suvsnaxy: The principal fiber crops cultivated in China are
ramie, flax, hemp, jute, ambary, and abutilon. Ramie and jute are
cultivated in the regions south of the Yangtze River, flax in the
Northeast and Northwest, abutilon in North China, and Central China,
ambary in the Northeast and in East China, and hemp is grown through-
out the nation. The annual production is difficult to estimate.
Ramie, hemp, and abutilon have been exported in the past, but as yet
jute, anbary, and flax do not meet domestic demands.
The main fibers produced in China are ramie, flax, hemp, jute, abutilon, and
ambary. In the different regions of the nation, however, these six fibers are
known by various names. Below are the fibers and various names by which they are
known:
Variations in Names
Ramie (Boehmeria nivae) Chu (Chekiang); ch'u-tzu Kwantun
( 8 g); hsien-
ch'u (Ronan); pai-ma, shou-pa-ma, p'ien-ma
ch'ing-ma (commercial names given according
to quality. and manufacturing use)
Flax (linum usitatissimum) Hu-ma (Northwest provinces)
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1951
DATE DIST. ~28' Dec 1954
NO. OF PAGES 6
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Ch -kuo ti Me.-lei Tso:wu (China's Fiber Crops), Shang-wu
Yin-shu
Kuan Commercial Press , Shanghai, 2d printing, 1953
STATE
ARMY
Maw t+SRB DISTRIBUTION
I IA1R ~ FBI I I
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Fiber Variations in Names
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Huo-ma (Szechwan); huang-ma (Chekiang,
Anhwei); hsien-ma (North, East China);
hua-ma, mu-ma, ta-tzu-ma, hao-ma (Hopeh,
Pao-ting); hung-ma (Honan); pai-ma, ch'-
ing-ma, hei-ma (commercial)
Jute (Corchorus capsularis) Lu-ma, to-ma (Chekiang); Taiwan lu-ma,
t'ai-ma (Chekiang); sha-ma, chia-t'ou-
lu-ma, chi-kua-huang-ma
Ambary (Hibiscus cannabinus) Yin-tu-lu-ma (Chekiang); chin-ma
Abutilon (Abutilon avicennae) Pai-ma (Hopeh); huo-ma, ch'iu-ma, hsiu-ma
(Ronan); ch'ing-ma (Northeast, North
China); yao-yung-ma (Anhwei); ch'ing-ma
(Kiangsu)
Generally speaking, the regions south of the Yangtze are considered the
main ramie- and jute-producing areas; the Northeast and Northwest are flax
regions, and North and Central China are abutilon-growing regions. Ambary is
a relatively new crop, and at present is mainly produced in the Northeast and
in East China.
The distribution of ramie extends from Hainan in the south to the southern
portions of Shansi and Shensi in the north. All provinces within these limits
cultivate ramie, but the main ramie-growing areas are in the Yangtze River
basin -- Kiangsi, Hupeh~and Hunan. The ramie production of these provinces
is more than one half of the total national production. Other provinces, such
as Szechwan Kweichootj~ and Anhwei, each have an annual ramie production of over
50,000 tan [about 2. million kilograms].
Flax is cultivated in the Northwest, Northeast, and North China. The
flax grown in North and Northwest China is cultivated for its seed oil; flax
used for its fibers is grown mainly in the Northeast, which produces over 90
percent of the national production. In the past, Heilungkiang, Sungkiang,
and Kirin were the main producers of flax. After liberation, the Northeast
Peoples Government promoted the cultivation of flax for its fibers, and it is
expected that flax growing will be expanded throughout the nation.
China is the hemp producing center of the world. Hemp is grown in almost
all of the provinces but the Northeast, East, and North China produce the most.
Anhwei produces the most hemp, with Shantung next; but Kirin, Heilungkiang, and
Sungkiang all have an annual production of more than 100,000 tan [about 5 pil-
lion kilograms)..
Jute is grown in the regions south of the Yangtze, where rains are com-
paratively heavy, and East China is considered the main jute region. In
Chekiang, the 1951 production of jute increased more than five times; over
that of 1949.
Ambary was introduced into the Northeast by the Japanese in 1938, but its
cultivation was not developed very much during the war years. Since the libera-
tion, however, there has been an annual expansion of the ambary area, and at
present Liaosi and Chekiang are the main producers of this fiber.
Abutilon is cultivated in the areas north of the Yangtze. The main pro-
ducers are East China, North China, and the Northeast; very little abutilon
is grown in the other regions. Among the provinces, Hopeh and Shantung_
produce the most, each having an annual production of more than 100,000 tan
[about 5 million kilograms].
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C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
China has the greatest variety of and the most extensively cultivated
fiber crops in the world. However, because of the corruption and ineptness
of the previous government, there was no desire to develop the rich agri-
cultural resources. There were no dependable production statistics for the
various agricultural crops. Nevertheless, based on many incomplete and
fragmentary statistics, the annual production of fibers can be approximated:
China's Fiber Production (in tan
Area Bernie Flax Rem Jute Ambary
Abutilon
Northeast -- 1,322,504 581,048 448,454
160,892
North China - 3,120 98,890
1,500
205,470
Northwest 15,000 11,780 51,040
East China 224,700 24.800 S-4A Fnn
South China 856,930 9,880 75,050 --
S
27,500
outhwest 179,250 28,790 15,000
--
Total 1,275,880 1,361,204 1,308,248 1,040,550 499,694
631,192
* (one tan equals 50 kilograms)
** Jute production in East China includes some ambary.
Of the six types of fiber ciil tivated in China, ramie, hemp, and abutilon
have been exported. Jute, ambari, and flax as yet do not meet domestic needs.
Following are a few brief notes on past production, trade, and domestic con-
Gumption of China's fibers:
According to Japanese estimates, ramie production in prewar China aver-
aged 1.6 million tan [about 80 million kilograms] annually, of which about
one fourth was exported. World markets for ramie were almost completely sup-
plied by China. Production was greatly reduced by 8 years of war, but since
liberation ramie production has rapidly expanded.
Before the war, the hemp output was about 1-1.3 million tan [50-65 mil-
lion kilograms] annually, with a small amount exported. Northeast and North
China hemp was exported from Tientsin, while that from Chekiang was exported
from Shanghai.
Much flax is cultivated in the Northeast and Northwest, but it is used
mainly for its oil seeds. After liberation, flax was extensively cultivated
in the Northeast, and in 1950, flax fiber output reached 83,000 tan (about
4,150)000 kilograms). In the future, with the liberation of Taiwan, flax
production will be further developed.
Although Jute and ambary are two different crops, their fiber character-
istics and uses are very similar. For this reason the production of ambary
is usually calculated with that of Jute. The histo
very short, but its usefulness ro g a i is
tivation is fairly , yields and prices are e s so good od that t its c snt ul-
cul-
widespread.
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C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
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C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
Prior to the war, the annual production of abutilon was 600,000-900,000
t
5
an [about 30-45 million kilograms], with approximately 100,000 tan [about ams ofma utilon,lwith 60-80 percent Tientsin was
and the
the Northeast for
Northwest
shipped through this port. In the past, Japan was the largest importer of
abutilon, but there were also shipments going to Germany, France, and the US.
Because abutilon may be combined with jute in manufacturing, the government
is increasing its production.
With the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the cultiva-
tion of agricultural products for industrial use has developed rapidly. For
example, national grain production in 1950 was 16 percent higher than in
1949, and 87 percent of the average annual production before the war. The
1951 grain total was 7 percent more than the 1950 production, and 93 percent
of the prewar average. Cotton production in 1950 increased 60 percent over
1949, and was 84 percent of the prewar average annual production. By 1951,
cotton production was 58 percent over that of 1950 and 133 percent of the
prewar average.
There was also a rapid development in the cultivation of fiber crops.
In 1949, fiber production was only 13 percent of the highest production year
(1938). But with the establishment of the new government, the old fiber-
growing regions were revitalized and new areas developed. For example,
in Chekiang over 798,000 tan [about 39.9 million kilograms) of jute (includes
ambary) were produced in 1950, a 290 percent increase over 1949, and the 1951
production was 70 percent higher than that of 1950. Fiber production during
1950 was 80 percent of the highest production mark, and by 1951 production
was 304 percent of the highest level.
In 2 years, many-successes have been obtained in China. In 1950, the
output of yarn and cloth was already 99.5 percent of the highest prewar
level, and the 1951 production exceeded that of 1950 by 33 percent. On the
industrial front, the 1950 production of steel, electrical power, etc. was
more than ten times that of 1949. Foreign trade in 1950 exceeded previous
marks by 9.34 percent.
The need for fibers will increase along with the industrial develop-
ment of China. As industry grows and mechanized equipment is provided for
the farmers, agriculture will make still greater achievements, including
expansion of the fiber industry.
bable showing geographical distribution of fiber crops follows:)
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C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
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Distribution of Fiber Crops
(Numbers in parentheses indicate rank in terms of volume of production. All numbered provinces produce over
100,000 tan [about 5 million kilograms] of fiber.)
Area Ramie
Flay
Northeast
(3)
Jehol
Liaotung
Liaosi
Kirin
Mukden
Jehol
Liaotung
Liaosi -
(2)
Sungkiang
(2) Kirin
to
(1)
Heilungkiang
(5) Sungkiang
to
(4)
Inner
(4) Heilungkiang
Iz
Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
IH
It,
ILi
I
I
North China
Suiyuan
Chahar
Suiyuan
Chahar
Iz
Shansi
IH
Hopeh
I f-I
la
Ir
Northwest
Tsinghai
Ningsia
Kansu
Shensi
East China
Kiangsu Taiwan
Anhwei
Chekiang
Fukien
Taiwan
(2)'Shantung
Kiangsu
(1) Anhwei
Chekiang
Ambary Abutilon
Mukden Mukden
Jehol Jehol
Liaotung Liaotung
(1) Liaosi Liaosi
(2) Kirin Kirin
Sungkiang Sungkiang
Inner Heilungkiang
Mongolia Inner Mongolia
Kiangsu Shantung
Anhwei (3) Chekiang
(1) Chekiang Taiwan
Fukien
(2) Taiwan
(2) Shantung
Kiangsu
Anhwei
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Central South Honan
(2) Hupeh
(1) Kiangsi
(3) Hunan
Kiangsi
Kvangtung
Yunnan
Kveichov
Szechwan
-lonan K iangsi
Kiangsi
Kwangtung
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