France

General Information

· Main climates: Temperate Oceanic, Subtropical Dry Summer

· Total land area: 55 150 000 ha

· Internal renewable water resources: 170 km³

· Incoming water flow: 15 km³

· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 21 214

· Main food consumed: Wheat, Meat, Oil & fat, Milk, Sugar & honey

· Rice supply, 1999: 7 kg paddy/capita/year

Basic Statistics

	1985	1990	1995	2000
RICE
Harvested area (T ha)	11.2	20.4	25.2	18.5
Yield (kg/ha)	5496	5946	4857	5763
Production (T t)	61.5	121.3	122.4	107.0
Imports (T t)	283.1	265.7	280.9	NA
Exports (T t)	17.8	43.8	74.3	NA
OTHERS
Population (M)	55.1	56.7	58.0	NA
Agr population (M)	3.79	3.11	2.49	NA
Irrigated agr area (T ha)	1050	1300	1630	NA
Fertilizer cons (T t)	5694	5683	4914	NA
Agr tractors in use (T units)	1491	1440	1311	NA

Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons

Rice is planted once a year and mainly in the Camargue, Arles

Cropping season	Planting	Harvesting
Main season	4-5	9-10

Production Practices

Rice is planted only under irrigated conditions, in large and highly mechanised farm. Direct seeding by broadcasting is the popular method of crop establishment. Rice crops are applied with adequate rate of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals for crop protection. Rice varieties belong to japonica subspecies.

Variety Name	Released period	Growth duration (days)
ARIETE	1985-89	134
BALILLA	1980	170
CARILLON		151
CIGALON	1990	127
CRIPTO	1990	140-153
DRAGO	1990
INCA	1994	149
KORAL		143
LIDO	1985-89	141
LOTO	1985-89
THAIBONNET	1990-94	144

The following table shows the rice responses to fertilizer application.

Other information	Test range (kg/ha)	Control rate (kg/ha)	Control yield (t/ha)	Rate at Maximum yield (kg/ha)	Maximum yield (t/ha)
Nitrogen (N)
Reported in 1994, Camargue, 1989 season with 34.9 kgP + 124.5 kg K/ha, var. Lido	0-160	0	5.3	100	6.5
Reported in 1994, Camargue, 1990 season with 34.9 kgP + 124.5 kg K/ha, var. Lido	0-150	0	4.1	100	7.3
Reported in 1994, Camargue, Field survey, 169 sites from 1984 to 1988	20-165	20	5.4	109	6.5

Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production

There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in France. Followings are the major:

· Low temperatures.

· Stagnation of the yield potential of rice varieties.

· High production costs.

· Blast.

· Red rice.

Other information	Yield (t/ha)	Cost ($/ha)	Cost ($/t)
1996	5	1440	288
1995, Var. Thaibonet and Ariette	6	2050	341

The opening of rice market under WTO would have important effect on production. Also, rice production will be affected by the population's concern on environmental degradation.

Research and Development Institutes

· CIRAD, BP 5045, 34032 Montpellier Cedex 1, Fax: 33-67-615-605

· Institut de recherches agronomiques tropicales et des cultures vivrieres, 110, Rue de l'Universite, 75007 Paris, Phone: 45.50.32.10

· CIRAD-CA Laboratoire de Technologie des céreales, Maison de la technologie, 73 Rue Jean Francois Beton, B.P. 5035, 34032 Montpellier Cedex 1Phone:

· INRA, 2 Place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 1,

· ONIC-Office national interprofessionnel des céreales, 27 Avenue Bosquet, 75007 Paris,

· Service expérimentation du CFR, Mas du Sonnailler, 13200 Arles

· SICA France-riz, Route de Gimmaux, 13200 Arles, Phone

· Centre Francais du Riz, Mas du Sonnailler, 13200 Arles, France; Tel (90) 69 81 89; Telex 401 338F; Fax (90) 93 74 81

· CIRAD-CA, B.P. 5035, 34032 Montpellier Cédex 1, France; Tel (33) 67615812; Fax (33) 67615603

· INRA, 9 Place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex, France; Tel (33) 67612551; Fax (33) 67 61 44 44.

· Institut de recherches agronomiques tropicales, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-Marne, Phone: (1) 48.76.12.33 Telex: 231.464 F, Fax: (1) 43.94.44.91

· Union des cooperatives agricoles des semences de Provence, Z.I. Sud, Rue Gaspard Monge, 13200 Arles, Phone: 90.96.18.87 Telex: 420595