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Production of rice, one of the world's most important staple crops, is declining while demand steadily increases, particularly in China. As we have reported in earlier editions of New Agriculturist, there are many reasons for this: lack of labour for double cropping, competition for increasingly scarce water, and unseasonal weather due to climate change. This month in New Agriculturist our Focus on section is devoted to how research is attempting to increase rice yield and nutritional value by improving pest resistance, reducing the crop's dependency on water and modifying the nutrition content of rice grain.

Latest research indicates that the effect of climate change on rice yield has been under-estimated. According to the US National Academy of Sciences, higher night-time temperatures reduce yield by 15% for every 1°C rise in mean daily temperature. This threatens to negate the advances of the Green Revolution. In Developments we report how the President of the World Bank views climate change and aspects of modern lifestyle that contribute to conspicuous consumption of carbon-based energy. Meanwhile, the effects are already evident in Australia-News-where high temperatures and severe drought have become more frequent, threatening the vast Murray-Darling irrigated food-bowl of the country.

And we note, not for the first time, how politics often has a greater impact on agriculture than weather: Country Profile-Guyana, In Print-"The shackled continent", and Developments-Commitment to decentralisation of forestry, all reflect the far-reaching effects of government policies on agriculture, forestry and trade.

Points of view Decentralisation of Forestry Focus on Rice All hyped up for hybrid rice? Rice - learning from the past How rice farmers benefit from ICT Eureka for NERICA! Red rice for self-reliance! The golden future of rice? In Print The shackled continent Organic farming: Policies & prospects Agriculture in the city: A key to sustainability in Havana, Cuba Biological pollution: An emerging global menace Rights, resources & rural development: Community-based natural resource management in southern Africa Supporting small-scale farmers and rural organisations: Learning from experiences in West Africa A new agenda for forest conservation and poverty reduction: Making markets work for low income producers Building on successes in African agriculture Water matters for sustainable agriculture: A collection of case studies Working animals in agriculture and transport: A collection of some current research and development observations Perspective The challenges facing Polish agriculture within the EU By Agata Szlagier-Jablonska, former Chair of Poland's leading Organic Association

News UK pledges more funds for development Killed by contaminated maize Climate change prejudices Oz agriculture Café or decafé? Right way-wrong way? Improving nutrition with low-cost food mix Leaf miner attack on Uganda's groundnut crop Chronic Poverty Report Food safety in Asia-Pacific Containing transboundary diseases Challenge - More food with less water Bitter taste but sweet result Towards peace in Nepal Food safety portal Developments Kenya's dairy sector: the potential for policy change? Commitment to decentralisation in forestry despite past disappointments Climate change and agriculture - of serious concern Tackling Asia's Pigeonpea Plague Country Profile Guyana Picture feature A challenging future for rural youngsters

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