ASIAN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE

To assist in vegetable research decision-making relevant to the develo ping countries of Asia, an analysis of agroecological zonation (AEZ) f or vegetable-production areas was undertaken. In contrast to grain leg umes, vegetable-production areas were found to span AEZs, due largely to the anthropomorphic nature of vegetable-production systems. In broa d terms, characterization of vegetable-production systems can be based upon distribution of temperature and rainfall, with three categories recognized: cool highlands, warm-dry, and warm-wet lowlands. Because o f pressing environmental concerns for resource management in fragile h ighlands, and the demographic upturn in cities, vegetable-production r esearch should concentrate on resource management. In highland and per i-urban systems such will help ensure enhanced vegetable-production wi thout compromising the opportunity for future welfare and income of th e population at large.