Description

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food and cash crop of Pakistan. It is also one of the main export items of the country. It accounts for 5.9 percent of value added in agriculture and 1.3 percent in GDP. Rice plays multifarious roles in the economy of Pakistan. Firstly, it is second staple food and contributes more than 2.0 million tones to our national food requirement. Secondly, rice industry is an important source of employment and income for rural people. Thirdly, it contributes in the country, s foreign exchange. Food security in Asia depends largely on irrigated rice. More than 75 % of the world s rice is obtained from 79 m ha of irrigated land in Asia. But water scarcity has become menace for the sustainability of irrigated rice production. Most popular method of rice cultivation in Southeast Asia is transplanting. It is becoming difficult practice due to shortage and high cost of labour, water scarcity, and reduced profit.Therefore, farmers and researchers are trying hard to find out new ways to decrease water use in rice production and increase its use efficiency, essential for food security and sustaining environmental health in Asia.