Myanmar – Farmers dream of resurrecting Asia’s rice bowl
But the great poverty eradicator faces rotting stocks, creaking infrastructure, heavily indebted farmers and minimal foreign investment.
Vietnam – Vietnam rice boom puts pressure on farmers land
Experts say Vietnam’s drive to become one of the world’s leading rice exporters is pushing farmers in the fertile delta region to the brink, with mounting costs to the environment.
Japan – Japan launches intiative to boost rice exports to Singapore
A rice export association has launched an initiative to sell more rice to Singapore, taking advantage of the wealthy city-state’s appetite for Japanese cuisine.
Japan – All 2014 Fukushima rice cleared radiation tests, thanks to fertilizer
For the first time since the triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 plant throttled the agriculture-reliant prefecture, all rice produced there last year cleared the required radiation tests.
Play as a balinese farmer in spirits of the rice paddy
A tabletop game about agriculture has met full Kickstarter funding with plenty of time to go in the crowdfunding campaign.
USA – Rice coalition eyes Cuba
The USA Rice Federation has joined with more than 25 prominent U.S. food and agriculture associations and companies to form a coalition that seeks to advance trade relations between the United States and Cuba.
India – Scientists to help Ganges rice farmers handle climate threat
Research scientists are coming to the aid of 300 million people along the River Ganges who face a hungry future because their staple rice crop is threatened by climate change.
India – Rice waste makes ‘green wood’ to build low-cost homes in India
An Indian student with a farming background finds a green alternative to burning tons of rice husks and straw by using the waste as housebuilding material.
USA – ‘Rice-enomics’ in a drought
When herbicides swept from farms into rivers, George Tibbitts adopted better water-management strategies.
Ghana – Ghana to soon be a net-exporter of rice
Local rice production has seen a 60% increase in Ghana, President John Mahama has said, adding that the country may well be on its way to becoming a net exporter of rice.