Genevieve Donnellon-May

Ensuring food security for the region and beyond requires urgent action to modernise agriculture, diversify suppliers and strengthen cooperation.

In Southeast Asia, rice is more than just a food – it is the foundation of survival for almost 700 million people. But what happens when this lifeline begins to unravel? Climate change, economic pressures, limited arable land and water resources, and inefficient agricultural practices are threatening the region’s rice production, putting the future of hundreds of millions at risk.

The Philippines, a leading rice producer and the world’s largest importer, is already feeling the strain. On February 3, Manila declared a food security emergency in response to skyrocketing domestic rice prices. In response, the National Food Authority will release 300,000 tonnes of rice to stabilise prices.

The Philippines relies on imports despite its status as a major rice producer; imports covered more than a fifth of its domestic needs in 2023. This is because of shortfalls in production brought on by a range of issues including rising costs and extreme weather. Last year, rice imports hit a record 4.68 million tonnes, a 30 per cent year-on-year increase. About 75 per cent of imports came from Vietnam.

The crisis in the Philippines reflects broader challenges across Southeast Asia, a region responsible for almost 30 per cent of global rice production. Thailand and Vietnam dominate the region’s exports.

Rice cultivation in Southeast Asia increasingly faces economic, political and climatic pressures. The global rice shortage surpassed 8.5 million tonnes in 2023 – the largest since 2004 – driving up prices and weighing on household budgets.

The consequences are dire. Rice accounts for roughly 50 per cent of calorie intake in Southeast Asian diets, and agricultural production provides more than 10 per cent of the region’s economy. Rising prices have heightened fears of a food crisis, threatening to deepen poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Published Date: February 17, 2025