"Cochliobolus miyabeanus" is an important plant pathogen because it causes a common and widespread rice disease that causes high level of crop yield losses. It was a major cause of the Bengal famine of 1943, where the crop yield was dropped by 40% to 90% and the death of 2 million people was recorded. It is a possible agroterrorism weapon. Other known severe crop loss cases caused by "Cochliobolus miyabeanus" are globally distributed. In the Philippines, rice seedling mortality rate has been recorded up to 60%. In India and Nigeria, it can reduce total crop yield by up to 40%. Similar losses are observed in Suriname and Sumatra.