Per capita consumption of rice was declining in most Asian economies due to rising income and rapid urbanisation.

At the same time, global trade in rice was growing at a faster rate than other major cereals like wheat and corn.

Indian exports in basmati and non-basmati rice had touched 5.1 million tonnes last year. The country is the second largest exporter of rice after Thailand. In comparison, China is a minor exporter of rice.

Agriculture scientists participating at the second International Rice Congress here said that global trade in rice--often distorted by subsidies in developed and even developing countries--increased from four to seven per cent of rice production between 1992 and 2004.

Rising rice production had led to a decline in real prices for the crop, which helped sustain household food security.