Main nutritional resources: rice

Rice, which originated in Southeast Asia, is the most productive cereal per surface unit, requires the greatest amount of water and labour, and is the most consumed globally (26% of calories consumed as compared to 23% for wheat and 7% for corn).

It was the basis of the great Oriental civilisations and 89% of world production still takes place there.

Women protect themselves with an umbrella while working at high altitude in a paddy field.