Rice
Rice is
an important food crop to the world population. Although
its total planted area planted is smaller than the total
area planted to either wheat or maize, more than half of
the world population depend on rice as main source of
calories and protein. In 1997, rice provides about 700
calories/day/person or more for about 2.9 billion people,
most of whom live in developing countries. The FAO
Conference, at its Fourth Session in 1948, approved the
establishment of the International
Rice Commission
aimed at promoting cooperative action by Member Countries
in matters relating to the production, conservation,
distribution and consumption of rice (excluding matters
relating to international trade). Moreover, the
Rice
Development
Programme,
is also established as a component of the
Field
Food Crop Group
to accelerate the development of sustainable rice
production worldwide.
