The Future Of Smallholder Rice Farming In Asia

The Asian rice sector supports 140 million smallholder farmers, employs 300 million people in the rice value chain, contributes to 90% of the global rice output, and feeds 60% of the population. Despite the increasing urbanization and out-migration of rural youth to cities, smallholders continue to persist in Asia. There is a growing rural agrarian crisis due to the continuous neglect of villages and smallholder farmers in developing Asia. Chemical intensive rice farming alone is no longer sustainable due to an increasing ecological, environmental, and economic problems. In addition, rice grain quality issues, micronutrient deficiency, and fear of arsenic toxicity in rice and rice-based diets are surfacing. A comprehensive understanding of scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and societal issues - including re-education of farmers and stabilization of the human population - is a prerequisite to effectively implement eco-efficient, intensive farming practices. We must succeed because the food security of billions of people depends on the success in implementing a truly sustainable farming of rice and other crops across Asia.