The International Year of Rice (IYR) officially ended on 31 December 2004. Building on the goodwill created over the past year, the International Rice Commission (IRC) will continue to promote IYR objectives. Click for details...
Rice is the the staple food of more than 3,000 million people. However, the rate of growth of rice yield increases is declining, and water and land resources for rice production - especially in Asia - are becoming scarce. The food security of rice consumers depends, therefore, on greater national, regional and international efforts and investments to achieve sustainable production increases.
The International Rice Commission was established by FAO in 1949 and currently represents 62 rice-producing countries. The purpose of the IRC is to
promote national and international action in matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution and consumption of rice.
A regular Session of the Commission is held every four years to review progress and advise on adjustments in national rice programmes. The last Session was held in Peru in 2006.
Origin
Rice has fed a great number of people of Asia for a longer period of time than any other food crop. In Asia, the ability to produce a surplus of rice has assisted in the development of communities, whereas the failure of a rice crop has led to widespread famine, death and political instability in many countries throughout the long history of the continent. In recognition of the stagnation of world rice production, the Fourth Session of Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations met in 1948 approved the agreement formulated at Baguio, Philippines on the establishment of the International Rice Commission. The International Rice Commission become operational on 4 January 1949 after 12 countries registered their acceptance to adhere to the Constitution of the Commission, that satisfied the conditions set in its Article IX, which is as following:
"This Constitution shall enter into force as soon as notifications of acceptance have been received from the governments of at least ten countries members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations representing in the aggregate not less than half of the world production of rice in the crop year1947/48 as shown by official statistics."
The first Regular Session of the International Rice Commission was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1949.
Purpose
The purpose of the International Rice Commission is to promote national and international action in matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution and consumption of rice.
