Low input costsand high output prices make these rice types profitable.ĭownload higher resolution chart (1275 pixels by 1119, 150 dpi) These varieties are grown in rainfedconditions without full irrigation systems and with relatively little fertilizer. Thai farmers have typicallyplanted low-yielding varieties that take a long time to mature but whose aroma, taste, andappearance command a premium in the world market. This is partly attributed to farmerbehavior in Thailand, normally the largest rice-exporting country. Unlike in China, where hybrid rice seeds dominate the long grain rice sector, hybrid seeds have not taken off commercially in most of Southeast Asia.Īverage rice yields in most of the rice-exporting Peninsular countries (Burma, Thailand,Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) are below the world average. Market prices for hybrid rice are reportedly lower than for traditional varieties because consumers prefer the taste of the traditional varieties. Reports from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Burmaindicate that some farmers find hybrid seed prices too high, and that hybrid yields are lower than anticipated because of problems with inputs, water, or extreme conditions. This makes rice breeding and seed propagation using hybrid techniques more difficult and time-consuming, and seed costs are high. Rice, however, is a self-pollinated plant, unlike corn, which is cross-pollinated. Hybrid seeds greatly boost yields for crops like corn and rice. But management choices such as these often involve higher costs or more time and expertise.Īnother way to increase yields is through crop breeding, but hybrid rice programs illustrates some of the barriers to adoption of new varieties. Yields can be increased through careful management, including timing of the planting and harvest, and weed control. Greater use of fertilizer and chemical inputs can increase yields, up to a point. Yields depend on soil, climate, and weather conditions, but management choices can have an effect as well. Yield growth in the region has also slowed in recent years (see box, “The Green Revolution”). The rate of increase, however, is expected to be slower than in the past, unless higher rice prices encourage producers to expand the area allocated to rice. Further increases in multiple cropping are anticipated. In recent years, double cropping has expanded the rice harvest area in Thailand. Nevertheless, if prices are favorable and the water supply is sufficient, multiple cropping of rice can increase production. In southern Vietnam, the risk of disease has prompted the government to strongly discourage triple-cropping. In addition to putting greater pressure on water and labor, multiple rice crops on the same land are associated with greater incidence of pests and diseases. Double- and triple-cropping are possible in tropical areas, where water, rather than temperature, is the limiting factor. Rice demand is likely to grow slowly across all of Southeast Asia over the next decade, which could free up more supplies to send to countries outside the region.ĭownload higher resolution chart (1378 pixels by 1135, 150 dpi)Īrea harvested can also be increased by growing more than one crop of rice per year on the same land. The Peninsular countries supply the Island countries but have additional rice to send outside the region. Southeast Asia contains the world’s largest rice-exporting countries (called “Peninsular” in the map) and major rice-importing countries (called “Island”). Throughout the world, consumers, especially in low-income households, face financial stress when rice prices rise, while most producers benefit from higher prices.ĭespite slow growth in production, Southeast Asia has a large rice surplus and is likely to continue to supply needs in the rest of the world. A simultaneous slowdown in production growth raises concerns about the ability to meet future demand. Growth in global rice consumption has been slowing, as consumers in much of Asia increasingly diversify their diets and turn to other foods. According to the USDA Baseline, this trend is projected to continue. The world’s largest source of rice exports is Southeast Asia (especially Thailand and Vietnam), where production exceeds consumption. While most rice is consumed in the countries where it is produced, rice trade has been growing. Rice, after wheat, is the world’s most consumed food grain, with global consumption reaching 444 million metric tons in 2011. Southeast Asia, the world’s dominant rice export region, has an important role in determining world rice prices and food security in regions that depend on rice imports, such as Sub-Saharan Africa. The large surplus of production over regional demand in Southeast Asia is likely to continue for the next decade. The growth rates of both production and consumption of rice in the Southeast Asia region have been slowing.
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