Between now and 2020, 1.2 billion new rice consumers will be added in Asia. Feeding these people will require the greatest effort in the history of agriculture: rice production must be increased by one third from today’s 320 million tons to 420 million tons. Farmers will have to grow an extra 3.7 million tons every year—at the very time that rice land is decreasing and the remaining fields seem to be wearing out.
In much of Asia, where rice is the essence of survival, poor people in both cities and rural areas spend half to three fourths of their incomes on rice—and only rice. Keeping rice prices within their means is an absolute must for social, economic, and political stability—and for promoting development and reducing poverty. The current Asian economic crisis is a sobering reminder that rice cannot be taken for granted.
For Asia, rice sufficiency is the foundation of a healthy and vibrant society. Asia will be prosperous only if it can feed itself.
In recent years, traditional western funding sources for global rice research have been drying up, and the budgets of national rice programs in Asia are inadequate to support long-term research programs.
But much remains to be done. Rice research must continue to provide better ways of coaxing more rice from less land while preserving the fragile environment.
Rice farming, if it is to be attractive to future generations, must be transformed into a respected and economically profitable profession. Asians must become more conscious of the importance of rice in their lives. And the priceless rice cultural heritage must also be preserved for the education and enjoyment of posterity.
Because of the magnitude of these endeavors, no one organization can do it all. Collaboration among diverse partners is the key.
To succeed, this massive effort must be well coordinated, timely—and well funded. Because more than 90 percent of the world’s rice is grown and consumed in Asia, Asians must become responsible for financing rice research and development. A new regional initiative is needed to help keep Asia’s rice bowls full.
The Asia Rice Foundation, which is initiated by Asians, operated by Asians, and targeted at benefiting Asians, is making this happen.