The world is facing a food crisis. The U.N. World Food Programme warned that "a record 345 million acutely hungry people are marching to the brink of starvation”. Rice is a critical crop in Asia, as the region consumes 90% of the rice produced worldwide. But the USDA estimates that rice production could decline 2% year-on-year, the first decline in seven years. In India and elsewhere, heatwaves and low water tables threaten the notoriously thirsty crop. In Thailand, rising sea levels have salted the paddy fields, leaving them less viable for rice planting. In Indonesia, the shortage of fertiliser is disrupting this year's planting cycles. And all this against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has drastically reduced the supply of other grains like wheat. 0:00 Introduction 1:28 Difficulties faced by rice farmer in India 4:27 Rice as a food staple in Asia 6:56 Why rice production in India is falling 12:00 How saltwater intrusion's killing rice in Asia 20:51 How rising rice prices affect consumers 23:28 Impact of fertiliser shortage on rice farmers 38:22 New rice varieties for extreme weather? 42:22 Can Asia substitute rice as a staple? For greater INSIGHT into issues affecting Asia:    • Insight   =============== ABOUT THE SHOW: Insight investigates and analyses topical issues that impact Asia and the rest of the world. ========================== #CNAInsider #CNAInsiderInvestigates #Rice #Food For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnainsider/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnainsider/ Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider