The Intergovernmental Group on Rice
The FAO Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Rice represents a forum for intergovernmental consultation and exchange on trends in production, consumption, trade, stocks and prices of rice, including regular appraisal of the world rice situation and short term outlook. The Group, under FAO auspices, considers changes in national rice policies and examines their international effects as pertaining to the current and prospective rice situation. The group meets once in each biennium. Recent sessions have been held jointly with the IGG on grains. The last Joint Session was held in May 2007 in Istanbul with the collaboration of the Government of Turkey.
Membership in the Group is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO, including Observers from international organizations and institutions. Nearly all rice importing and exporting countries are Members of the IGG on rice. The last Joint Session elected Mr. R. Parasuram (India) as the Group's Chairperson, Mr. Ayhan Baran (Turkey) and Mr. Hagen Streichert (Germany) as its First and Second Vice-Chairpersons respectively. The FAO Secretary of the IGG on Rice is Ms. Concepcion Calpe.
