WELCOME

The International Rice Commission (IRC) was established by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1949 in face of the stagnation of world rice production during the 1940s to promote national and international action in matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution and consumption of rice.

Rice has pivotal importance to issues such as food security and poverty alleviation. In 2002, rice was grown in 113 countries and it is the staple food of more than half of the world's population. In Asia alone, more than 2 billion people obtain 60 to 70 percent of their caloric intake from rice and its derived products. It is the most rapidly growing food source in Africa and is an important element of food security in an increasing number of low-income and food deficit (LIFD) countries. Moreover, rice cultivation and post-harvest operations employ several hundred million people in rural areas in the developing countries. Improvements in rice yield from the Green Revolution have increased the return from rice production and incomes of rice farmers and have provided poor people in both rural and urban centres with better access to food.

However, the increases in the incomes of rice farmers have been negated by the recent decline in rice prices. In addition, there is evidence of yield deceleration, productivity decline, yield ceilings, the existence of a large gap between potential yield and actual yield, social inequity and environmental degradation within current rice-production systems. Water and land resources for rice production, especially in Asia, are becoming more and more scarce. The situation calls for appropriate strategies on rice development and production, as well as the harmonisation of efforts from various sectors. In response to the request made during the 31st session of the FAO Conference, the United Nations General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session in December 2002 - in reaffirming the need to focus world attention on the role that rice can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty - approved a resolution which was submitted by the Philippine Delegation and supported by another 43 countries, and declared the year 2004 the International Year of Rice.

FAO includes 183 member countries and one member organization, the European Community. FAO has established regional, subregional, liaison and country offices worldwide, giving it a special position to assist the national, regional and international programmes on rice development and production.