AGRICULTURE REPORT - International Year of Rice

AGRICULTURE REPORT - International Year of Rice
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Tuesday, January 20, 2004

This is Bob Doughty¹ with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2004 the International Year of Rice. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations discussed the importance of the declaration² in January. Indonesia's Minister of Agriculture said the UN declaration gives many nations the chance to consider food security. He said technology has an important part to play in improving rice production.

Rice provides twenty percent of the world's dietary energy - more than wheat or corn. It is a central food in the diet of a majority of the world's population.

The director-general of the U-N Food and Agriculture Organization, Jacques Diouf, has called rice a symbol of cultural identity and unity³. But he warned that production must increase.

The FAO says better farming methods could produce a bigger crop of most kinds of rice.

During the 1990's, world rice production increased. But Mister Diouf warns that production will not meet the needs of growing populations by two-thousand-thirty.

The economics⁴ of rice is also important. The FAO says developing governments often place price controls on rice. These governments have to balance two pressures. Prices need to stay low so people can buy this important food. But growers need prices to rise to increase their income.

Price pressures hurt small farmers in developing countries the most. These farmers do not get aid that governments provide farmers in industrial countries.

Exporting can ease these pressures. But only five to seven percent of the world rice crop is traded internationally. This is much lower than wheat and corn. More than eighty percent of all rice is grown on small farms and used locally. Small producers hold large shares of the world export market because of this. Thailand is the biggest exporter of rice with twenty-six percent of the market. But, China and India are by far the biggest producers of rice.

Special kinds of rice may offer a way to create new export markets. Rice with qualities like good smell, unusual color or high protein levels represent specialty⁵ products. They could provide growers with higher profit crops.

The UN has chosen the words, Rice is Life to represent the idea behind The International Year of Rice.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. This is Bob Doughty.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

5 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。