1、 Contact Details:Tel office:+264 61 379 500 Fax office:+264 61 22 5371 E-mail:.na Website:.na Physical address:Agricultural Boards Building 30 David Hosea Meroro Road Windhoek Namibia Postal address:PO Box 5096 Ausspannplatz Windhoek Namibia Constituted by Act 20 of 1992 A world class regulator of v

2、ibrant,diversified and sustainable crop industry Page 1 of 29 MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT RICE(ORYZA SATIVA)ISSUE 1 OF 2025 Page 2 of 29 1.INTRODUCTION Rice(Oryza sativa/Oryza glaberrima),domesticated approximately 13,500 years ago,is a cereal crop from the Poaceae family.It is a semi-aquatic plant t

3、hat requires consistent irrigation throughout its growth cycle.As a tropical crop,rice can be cultivated during both dry and wet seasons,provided sufficient water is available.An annual crop can grow as a perennial in tropical climates,producing multiple harvests through ratooning.Rice types are bro

4、adly categorised by grain length(long,medium,and short)and by processing(white,brown,parboiled),with popular varieties including basmati,jasmine,arborio,black rice,bomba and wild rice,each with unique flavours and textures.Rice is a staple food in many countries,composed of water,protein,carbohydrat

5、es,minerals,and a small amount of fat.Globally,rice ranks third in production after sugarcane and maize(Prasad et al.,2017),and it is a crucial source of nutrition and calories.Global rice consumption continues to rise,exceeding 520 million metric tons annually(Shahbandeh,2024).Prasad et al.(2017)st

6、ate that over 50%of the worlds population depends on rice for their daily diet,providing about 20%of the global caloric intake.Rice is a key food source for nearly half the worlds population,with the majority of production occurring in Asia,particularly in countries like China,India,Thailand,and Vie