1.
Introduction
Because
rice
is
critical
for
food
security
in
so
many
of
the
poor
est
countries,
investments
in
the
rice
sector
should
be
designed
to
alleviate
poverty
and
meet
the
food
demands
of
still
growing
populations.
In
many
of
these
countries
and
especially
in
the
rural
regions,
the
economies
are
still
essentially
agricultural,
and
the
average
employment
in
agriculture
is
high.
Income
from
agriculture
then
often
depends
on
the
availability
and
quality
of
resources,
and
although
rainfed
lowlands
include
favourable
environments
with
conditions
similar
to
irrigated
systems,
most
of
the
area
in
this
ecosystem
faces
various
bio-physical
constraints
for
rice
produc
tion.
The
main
climatic
factor
in
most
of
the
region
is
the
monsoon,
which
deposits
>80%
of
the
rainfall
within
just
a
few
months.
This
limits
the
options
for
crops
other
than
rice
in
the
rainy
season
because
of
at
least
temporary
flooding
in
most
years
and
does
not
1.
Introduction
Because
rice
is
critical
for
food
security
in
so
many
of
the
poor
est
countries,
investments
in
the
rice
sector
should
be
designed
to
alleviate
poverty
and
meet
the
food
demands
of
still
growing
populations.
In
many
of
these
countries
and
especially
in
the
rural
regions,
the
economies
are
still
essentially
agricultural,
and
the
average
employment
in
agriculture
is
high.
Income
from
agriculture
then
often
depends
on
the
availability
and
quality
of
resources,
and
although
rainfed
lowlands
include
favourable
environments
with
conditions
similar
to
irrigated
systems,
most
of
the
area
in
this
ecosystem
faces
various
bio-physical
constraints
for
rice
produc
tion.
The
main
climatic
factor
in
most
of
the
region
is
the
monsoon,
which
deposits
>80%
of
the
rainfall
within
just
a
few
months.
This
limits
the
options
for
crops
other
than
rice
in
the
rainy
season
because
of
at
least
temporary
flooding
in
most
years
and
does
not
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..