from farm yields fy of maize increased linearly at percent per annum versus percent for soybean and percent for wheat and rice edmeades eta these yield increases are insufficient to meet future food demands without resorting to agricultural land expansion but asia has little arable land available for expansion in addition climate change predictions for the asian region paint a scenario of rising temperatures increased variability in rainfall land degradation and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as drought and floods which raises particular concerns for the agricultural sector