PRODUCTION, POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY AND TRADE OF RICE: A STUDY ON CURRENT SCENARIO IN ASEAN

The aim of this study is to assess the current scenario of ASEAN rice, particularly production, implementation of postharvest technologies and postharvest trade. The study also identifies the potentials and challenges of market access of ASEAN rice. The analyses revealed that Indonesia ranked the first position in producing rice, followed by Vietnam and Thailand. However, Thailand was the highest rice exporting country among ASEAN, followed by Vietnam. In the recent years, significant improvement had been made in terms of usage of rice postharvest technologies in the region. The ASEAN member countries have a number of opportunities to enhance the market access of rice. Simultaneously, ASEAN rice is facing several challenges in the international markets. Therefore, it is urgently needed for the ASEAN policy makers and other rice stakeholders to provide coordinated efforts for designing policy actions for sustainable production, effective implementation of postharvest technologies, trade and market access of rice.