Rice is Life, International Year of Rice 2004 and Its Implementation

The first part of this fully illustrated hardback book presents the International Year of Rice and hundreds of events that took place worldwide in 2004 to implement the Year with the enthusiastic and extensive participation of people from rural and urban areas, developed and developing countries, and of governments and non-governmental organizations. The second part of the book describes the facets of Rice is Life - rice production and hunger reduction; rice and human nutrition; rice as a symbol of cultural identity and global unity; rice and environment; rice and agricultural biodiversity; and labour, gender and livelihood in rice. The last part of the book focuses on the importance of rice and, indeed, of agriculture, in and beyond the new millennium. The pages of the book are enriched by photographs taken by the amateur and professional photographers who participated in the "International Year of Rice" Global Photography Contest.