Maclean, J.L., Dawe, D.C., Hardy, B. and Hettel, G.P. (eds) Rice almanac. 3rd edn

Abstract

This book is the third in the series called Rice Almanac published by the International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines. It will serve as a standard source book for the most important economic activity on earth. The Almanac provides fully updated rice production and consumption statistics from the top ten rice‐producing countries, in addition to 54 other countries from Afghanistan to Venezuela. The book is composed of chapters on the importance of rice, the rice plant and its ecology, international issues, international rice research and development, rice around the world (covering 64 countries) and a country‐wise rice‐related database. Important conversion factors and rice facts provided at the end of the book provide valuable information, which is seldom available in other books. However, this part needs updating since it lacks a number of units and conversion factors, especially from India. A particularly useful feature of the Almanac is the listing of the names and locations of rice‐related database networks, together with a description of each one’s particular area of specialization and a contact e‐mail address. The book addresses, in an effective manner, various international issues important to rice, such as looming regional water crises, global climate change, biotechnology, intellectual property rights (IPR), functional genomics, crop modelling, nutritional rice, sustaining food security and biosafety. A chapter on international rice research and development deals with the mandate and programmes of the three leading CGIAR centres: the International Rice Research Institute based in the Philippines (the foremost global rice research centre), the West Africa Rice Development Association in Cote d’Ivoire (responsible for rice in that region) and the Centro International de Agricultura Tropical in Colombia, which undertakes rice research relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean. The relevance of rice research among national and international institutes has been emphasized by the establishment of a number of rice consortia. This has led to a host of benefits including the speeding of transfer of information and advance research innovations, quick resolution of problems, the enablement of scientific collaborations across political borders and economic barriers, and the sharing of scarce research resources among the rice‐growing countries. An attempt has been made for the first time to establish a rice publication network between IRRI, CIAT, WARDA and FAO, along with collaborating National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) from different countries, in order to establish a shared and up‐to‐date database on rice production systems. The major achievements of the three CGIAR centres in enhancing productivity and sustainability of rice‐growing areas through collaborative research programmes are outlined, and their impact on improving the livelihood of the rural poor living in fragile environments has been well summarized. Prospects for the improvement of rice productivity in different environments through the development of inter‐specific varieties (NERICAs), C4 rice, transgenic approaches, aerobic rice, and hybrid technology have received proper recognition in this book. Graphical presentation of the data and descriptions of research approaches, including some of the protocols, enables the reader to get a quick insight into the subject. A sizeable portion of the book covers information about rice‐growing environments, production constraints and opportunities, research developments in the rice sector, adoption of modern technology, external trade, and basic statistics from the 64 rice‐growing countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, Australia and United States of America. However, the information on the availability and adoption of popular high‐yielding modern and traditional rice varieties from different countries which possess a high degree of tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses needs to be updated. As the ‘Encyclopaedia of rice databases’, which I perceive this volume to be, the third edition of Rice Almanac will be of great help in updating information relating to rice production systems and in structuring research activities befitting different rice environments across the globe. It may also be helpful in formulating collaborative groups working on different aspects of rice research, depending upon the common needs of the agro‐ecosystems. Over all, this is an excellent reference book that is nicely presented. The book has a potential market worldwide for the scientists working on various aspects of rice research, including genetic engineering and biotechnology, gene mapping and marker‐aided selection, in addition to the conventional breeding and management strategies for sustainable improvement of rice yields.