Improved rice production in a changing environment: from concept to practice

摘要

The rice subsector has experienced three striking events since the last meeting of the International Rice Commission (IRC), held in 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. First, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 57/162, declaring 2004 the International Year of Rice (IYR); it was the first time the UN had dedicated this honour to a single commodity. Second, in 2002 world rice production began to increase once again, following three consecutive years of declining production: world production in 2005 stood at around 614 million tonnes of paddy rice (FAOSTAT, 2005). Third, world average yield in 2005 is projected to break the 4 tonnes/ha barrier. An average yield of 4 tonnes/ha may not appear to be a major accomplishment, but considering that rice is grown on over 150 million ha under a wide variety of conditions from irrigated to dryland to floating, an average yield of 4 tonnes/ha is indeed a significant achievement.