The gene that lets the rice plant survive after being submerged in water comes from an archaic rice strain from before the dawn of agriculture, discovered by geneticists 50 years ago.

FORBES: Green Genes

Mr. Belling: When I went to visit this rice cake plant, I hadn't realized how the rice cakes were made.

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Always on the move, they hired themselves out to feed pigs and plant rice.

NPR: Refugees Face Uncertain Future As Myanmar Opens

The result, in the case of staple crops, is higher yields in tougher conditions: a hectare of rice, a C3 plant, produces a harvest of no more than eight tonnes, whereas maize, a C4 plant, yields as much as 12 tonnes.

ECONOMIST: Genetic modification

Most of the learners are farmers and require time off from learning to plant and harvest rice in June, July, August, December and January so that they have extra classes in the other months to ensure that the course is completed.

UNESCO: Country Profile: Cambodia

That's nearly half the population, who must be resettled before the winter rainy season if they are to plant the single annual rice crop.

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Farmers in many flood plains plant crops that grow underwater, such as deep water aman rice or jute.

ECONOMIST: Deforestation and floods