Famine fears

MAJOR rice and water crises await Asian countries in the next 30 years, theInternational Rice Research Institute (iARi) reports. It predicts acute shortages of riceunless anti-pollution and conservation attempts are exercised in the area. iARi forewes social problems being triggered off by competition for declining water suppliesand tillable land among industries, farmers and urban consumers. The population ofAsia - fast approaching three billion - is shrinking the water and agricultural landrmources to the point of food shortages and social unrest. The easy way out, that is,development of new varieties of rice for increasing production will not help, and proper crop management andresource conservation is the only solution. This isbecause chemicals used as fertilisers and pesticides forhigh yielding rice cultivation have often contaminated7 the water sources. Future rice production will depend ondevising techniques producing more rice with lesswater. The shortage of freshwater supplies in Asiancountries is largely due to uneven distribution of rainfalland seasonal rains. More than half the rice produced inia are in the rain-dependent areas. Asian governments need to plan the allocation of water resources properly as problems regarding population and economic develop F ment intensify, says IARI.