1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
[P1-18] Ex-Ante Analysis of Rice Agroecosystems Areas, Yield and Production in Asia
*Nominated for Presentation Awards
Asian continent is home to more than half of the world's population which is at approximately 4.6 B as of 2018. It covers one-tenth of the global land areas. Rice is the major crop and staple food of most Asian people. Rice agroecosystems is the dominant landscape that is sustaining the food source of its inhabitants. With the use of FAOSTAT rice datasets and utilisation of data science vital information on areas devoted to rice crop, its yield and production were derived in this study. The whole of Asian continent was sub-divided per region namely: Central, Eastern, Southern, South-eastern and Western. Results showed that wider land areas were planted to rice as well as higher yields were recorded in Eastern, Southern and South-eastern regions. In consideration of the average per capita consumption for rice among Asians at 96 kg/person/year, the continent is experiencing a downward trend that could lead to rice production insufficiency. Possible adverse impacts of changing climatic conditions, ageing farmers and the overall declining rice yield despite the advances in rice production technologies. These issues can be mitigated by giving preferential attention by head of states, government regulatory or laws and policy implementing bodies as well as by all concerned stakeholders. Identified strategies proven by science and even by indigenous knowledge should be used and implemented accordingly to sustain life and wellness of the Asian populations.