Water and Rice Production
This chapter considers the challenges and opportunities with respect to meeting the demand for rice in the context of a trade-based concept of water, food, and nutrition security. It notes that there is more to rice than just its food value. It also has cultural values and various industrial uses while certain rice schemes have environmental or flood management benefits. The structure of the global rice sector is then presented in terms of production, demand, and trade which serve to confirm the importance of rice as an agricultural commodity. However, current production practices are—in many locations—characterized by challenges in terms of productivity, climate change, genetics, political economy, and cartels. These are analyzed before the text focusses on measures to increase the water productivity of rice before providing a ‘horizon view’ of supply and demand, prices, and the need for expanded production or new producing areas.