The World Bank estimates that 1.1 billion people live in poverty around the world today, and 840 million suffer from hunger. Seventy percent of these people live in Asia, where the poorest of the poor in both cities and rural areas spend half to three fourths of their incomes on rice—and only rice.

Tragically, in some troubled places the poor cannot even afford to buy rice. The current Asian economic crisis is a sobering reminder that rice cannot be taken for granted.

If rice prices are not kept within the means of the poor, it will be impossible to maintain social, economic, and political stability—and to promote development and reduce poverty. Asia will only be prosperous if it can feed itself—and food in Asia means rice.

What will the world be like if Asia is unstable?

How rice research can help

Researchers and government officials in Asia need to unite and formulate strategies for mutual collaboration to curb population growth, strengthen agricultural research, and improve irrigation and marketing infrastructure. In the parts of Asia that still face extensive poverty, food security problems threaten the sustainability of the natural resource base. Research is needed to determine the best options for solving these problems if the delicate rice supply-demand balance is to be maintained while protecting the environment.

Need more facts?

Dr. Mahabub Hossain
Economist and Head, Social Science Division
International Rice Research Institute