In order to achieve economic efficiency, research organizations have established rigorous, quantitative methods for priority setting. One such organization, the Rockefeller Foundation, has drawn on this report to help determine the research goals it should emphasize in its funding. A review of the problem of priority setting is presented followed by a discussion of approaches that have been used previously. Several chapters demonstrate how a number of areas of plant science research have contributed to gains in rice productivity and also assess the current challenges of genetic improvement and pest control. The economic framework for priority setting and previous methods are reviewed, followed by a series of country case studies which provide more practical applications.

The purpose of this book is to present a comprehensive picture of the role of rice in the food and agricultural sectors of Asian nations.

Study conducted in the Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.

Evolution of rice weed control practices and research: world perspective; Weeds of major economic importance in rice and yield lasses due to weed competition; Weed control practices as a component of rice production systems; Effects of hydrology, soil moisture regime, and fertility management on weed populations and their control in rice; Effects of stand establishment techniques on weed population in rice; The role of cropping systems on weeds in rice; Weed control technology in irrigated rice; Weed control technology in rainfed wetland rice; Importance rice weeds in Latin America; Weed control and rice production in Brazil.