Sustainable Rice Systems
 

Sustainable Rice Systems

 

The environmental and socio-economic conditions of rice production vary greatly from country to country as well as from location to location. The diverse environmental and socio-economic conditions have affected the performance of rice production in the past.  They also influence the opportunities for increasing rice production in the future. Based on soil-water conditions rice production ecosystems include irrigated lowland, irrigated upland, rainfed lowland, rainfed upland and deepwater/floating ecosystems.

©FAO/Hoang Dinh Nam

The rate of growth of rice yield increases is declining, while 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 toward achieving sustainable production increases. Policy makers need information on the situation of rice production and on improved technologies that are available for sustainable intensification of rice production in order to formulate appropriate policies for supporting rice production.

There are many constraints and challenges to reduce rice food shortage, lessening rural hunger and poverty within the rice-based systems. Fortunately, there are technical opportunities to address the constraints and challenges. Some of these opportunities include:

 

·   Conservation Agriculture (CA) - System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

·   Development of hybrid rice

·   Integrated rice systems with aquatic or livestock species

·   Integrated Pest – and Nutrient Management

 

©FAO/Hoang Dinh Nam

Rice and People