Seed is an important input in agriculture. Appropriate seed policy enables the supply of good varieties to farmers at a low cost. Thus, improved seed-sector functions, including seed subsidies, effective regulations, certifications, and efficient private-sector participation, receive significant...

Rice is a strategic commodity for food security in West Africa. Its consumption has grown rapidly over time as a result of population growth, urbanization, and increasing purchasing power. Dependency on imported rice exposes the region to external shocks stemming from the global market. Given...

The Philippines is much more prone to climate change effects than are many other countries. The potential impact on the agriculture sector is of particular concern, given its vital role in the economy and for vulnerable households. Most research warns of the negative impact of climate change on...

Policy making in food security is at a crossroads in India, particularly for the rice crop. Whereas India has emerged as a leading rice exporter over the last two years, the government has also introduced a large food subsidy program called the National Food Security Act. The program requires...

Since 2012/13, rice exports to China (which may have reached two million tons in 2015/16) boosted total demand for Myanmar's rice and rice prices. In mid-2016, however, China stopped rice imports through the main land entry point, putting substantial downward pressure on prices. Analysis...

Abiotic stresses such as droughts and floods significantly constrain rice production in India. New stress-tolerant technologies have the potential to reduce yield variability and help insulate farmers from the risks posed by these hazards. This study aims to explore the potential adoption of...

The surge in international rice (and other cereal) prices in 2007 and 2008 substantially raised the cost of cereal imports and shook the confidence in international markets of many national policymakers. This paper examines the recent experience with international rice reserves in Asia and...

In this paper we develop a policy-relevant typology using different intervention types and nutrition constraints. Our approach is based on an amendable demarcation of areas within a four-indicator diagram, each of which represents a core dimension of food and nutrition security (FNS), which...

Inspired by the ongoing process of decentralization and in an effort to inform local and national policy makers concerned with food security, this paper provides a descriptive but detailed geographical overview of Congo's food markets as well as the nutritional status of its population. To do...

In 2011, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government launched the Food Production, Processing, and Marketing project — which aimed to raise incomes and improve food security in the target areas by...