Rice Bowl Tales

First broadcast February 2007

In this special series we look into a food stuff that many of us take for granted and buy from a supermarket without much thought. We're talking about rice.

Rice Bowl Tales is a series of four programmes exploring the importance of rice to Asian economies, and how the crop contributes to a sense of national identity.

The series is a co-production between BBC World Service and ABC Radio National in Australia.

Part Two - Thailand

In the second programme of the series our presenter Tony Barrell, is in Thailand.

Despite being a small country, Thailand has managed to become the world's largest exporter of rice and it has a very special relationship with this humble crop.

In Thailand they say, 'rice is life'. In this programme we hear about the unique bond Thais have with this basic crop.

We hear about a yearly festival to the Gods asking for a good harvest, and how committed the King is to growing rice and looking after those who work in the paddy fields.

Also economists and farmers explain the challenges they face to keep on producing a profitable crop.

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