Rice in the four countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, also referred to as the Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) countries, has been cultivated in highlands and flatlands, in irrigated lands and rainfed lands, and in different seasons according to the monsoon rains and climate. For millions of farmers, rice farming is a way of life providing food subsistence, self-sufficiency, and security for their families, communities, and countries. This chapter examines agricultural land, paddy land, and harvested land, and rice production and consumption in the four countries.

Throughout this study the term “paddy”, or “rice paddy”, describes the yield of raw (“rough”) rice as grown and harvested in the fields. Paddy only becomes “rice” after it has been milled to separate the rice from the matured paddy plant (or “husk”). Inevitably some rice is lost during the milling process with the amount of rice lost varying by crop variety and quality. Overall, finished polished white rice tends to average 67% of rough rice by weight. All rice production data in this study refers to “paddy” grown in the field, whereas all rice consumption data refers to the polished white rice after the milling process.