Immediately after the World War II, the major problem the world faced was serious shortages of food. The deficiency ranging between 15 and 20%, especially in the rice dependant Asia, leaving a large population die of undernourishment and malnutrition made the United Nations Organization (UNO) to identify ‘increasing food production by scientific means’...

Speedy evolution and extensive adoption of progressively improved varieties/hybrids in the last four decades would not have been possible but for the well organized institutional mechanism for accessing needed genetic variability, tools and techniques for generating breeding material and systems for reliable and rapid evaluation of them and production and supply of quality seed. Establishment of the IRC in 1949 under the FAO framework was the first global initiative for promotion of rice...

The process of evolution of modern varieties underway since 60s has been decisively progressive keeping in view the changing needs and priorities of the stakeholders in the rice sector, especially the grower, the consumer and the trader without, however, compromising on the productive semidwarf and fertilizer responsive plant type. The improvements have been broadly for crop duration to suit different crop seasons and cropping systems, grain quality to meet diverse consumer preferences and...

                   About one billion plus of the global population still remain undernourished, inspite of the claims of grain revolution and plenty. Over 60% of them and majority of the still growing number are from Asia, where rice is the food and livelihood. Whatever may be the reason for this situation, the bottomline of all our current and future efforts should be for ensuring physical and economic access to rice-enough and for all in...