U.S. Rice Supplies Global Food Aid In Record Numbers

USA RICE PRODUCERS

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

 As the 2023-2024 fiscal year comes to a close, the U.S. rice industry can celebrate a banner year for rice in food aid.  A total of 161,000 MT of rice – bulk, bagged, fortified, and regular milled – was purchased to feed those in need through U.S. government international assistance programs.  This marks the highest total volume of rice used in food aid in nearly 15 years, and more than triple the total of FY 2023.

 
Heading into the last month of the fiscal year, U.S. rice had already had a very strong showing in international food assistance programs around the globe.  Through August 2024, approximately 84,000 MT of rice had been implemented in international assistance programs in 27 countries.  Fortified and regular milled rice were utilized in all three main U.S. government assistance programs – the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Title II, and two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs: McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Food for Progress.
 
FY 2024 also saw the implementation of a new government initiative using Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to purchase U.S.-grown commodities to distribute in countries suffering from hunger and malnutrition.  Under this program, the U.S. rice industry recently was tapped to provide 63,410 MT of milled bagged rice, 42,000 MT of which was fortified.  Six new countries will be among the recipients of this aid, bringing the total number of beneficiary countries to 33 in 2024.
 
“At a time when the number of people in need is growing throughout the world, the U.S. rice industry is proud to have contributed in a significant way to fighting hunger,” said Garrett Williams, with Producers Rice Mill in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and chair of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee.  “The industry looks forward to continuing our participation in international assistance programs in the coming year and beyond.”  ∆

USA RICE PRODUCERS