Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): Monocots

(unranked): Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Poaceae

Genus: Oryza

Species: O. sativa

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)Energy 370 kcal 1530 kJ

Carbohydrates     79 g

- Sugars  0.12 g

- Dietary fiber  1.3 g  

Fat 0.66 g

Protein 7.13 g

Water 11.62 g

Thiamine (Vit. B1)  0.070 mg   5%

Riboflavin (Vit. B2)  0.049 mg   3%

Niacin (Vit. B3)  1.6 mg   11%

Pantothenic acid (B5)  1.014 mg  20%

Vitamin B6  0.164 mg 13%

Folate (Vit. B9)  8 μg  2%

Calcium  28 mg 3%

Iron  0.80 mg 6%

Magnesium  25 mg 7% 

Manganese  1.088 mg 54% 

Phosphorus  115 mg 16%

Potassium  115 mg   2%

Zinc  1.09 mg 11%

Rice is grown in many regions across India. For about 65% of the people living in

India, rice is a staple food for them. Rice is essential to life in India. It is a part of nearly

every meal, and it is grown on a majority of the rural farms.

Some important facts about rice in Indian Scenario are as:

Agriculture is the main source of income for families in India. Farms cover over half

the land and almost three-quarters of that land is used to grow the two major grains:

rice and wheat.

India is the second leading producer of rice in the entire world, preceded only by

China.

India's annual rice production is around 85-90 million tons. Annual consumption is

around 85 million tons.

In India, Rice is cultivated in both seasons - winter and Summer.

West Bengal , Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Orissa,

Assam, Karnataka and Haryana are the major producing states. More than 50% of

total production comes from the first four states.

Food Corporation of India purchases around 20 to 25% of the total rice production in

the country both under levy from the rice mills and directly in the form of paddy from

the farmers at Minimum Support Prices announced by the Govt.

More than 4000 varieties of rice are grown in India.

India is the world's largest exporter of Basmati rice to Saudi Arabia and other Middle

East Countries, Europe, and the United States.

India has the potential to export one million tons of Basmati rice.

Major destinations for Indian non-basmati, white/parboiled rice are Bangladesh,

Indonesia, Philippines, Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast, and other African

countries.

Origin & Distribution of Rice

Origin:

Today, rice (Oyrza species) feeds more than half the world's population, and

accounts for 20 percent of the world's total calorie intake. It grows on every continent in

the world except Antartica, and has 21 different wild varieties and two cultivated species:

Oryza sativa, domesticated in south Asia at least 10,000 years ago, and Oryza

glabberima, domesticated in west Africa between about 1500 and 800 BC.

In the beginning rice grew wild, but today most countries cultivate varieties

belonging to the Oryza type which has around twenty different species. Only two of them

offer an agriculture interest for humans:

Oryza sativa: Common Asian rice found in most producing countries which

originated in the Far East at the foot of the Himalayas. O. sativa japonica grew on the

Chinese side of the mountains and O. sativa indica on the Indian side. The majority of the

cultivated varieties belong to this species, which is characterized by its plasticity and taste

qualities.

Oryza glaberrima, an annual species originating in West Africa, covering a large

region extending from the central Delta of the Niger River to Senegal.

Rice is the plant of Asian origin. The earliest record of rice in the world comes

from Non Nok Tha in Thailand, where it dates back to 3500 BC. Oryza sativa the rice

grown in India and south east Asia is first mentioned in Neolithic Chirand in North Bihar

(2000-1300 BC) and was also recorded in Hastinapur (1100-800 BC) and some other

places.Four grains of rice were recovered from the Yuchanyan site, a rock shelter in Dao

County, Hunan Province in China. They seem to represent very early forms of

domestication having characteristics of both japonica and sativa, and are said to be dated

between 12,000 and 14,000 years ago, although there is no discussion of what exactly

was dated in the very preliminary report.

It is believed that rice cultivation began simultaneously in many countries over

6500 years ago. The first crops were observed in China (Hemu Du region) around 5000

B.C. as well as in Thailand around 4500 B.C. They later appeared in Cambodia, Vietnam

and southern India. From there, derived species Japonica and Indica expanded to other

Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and

Indonesia. Japonica is an irrigated rice of temperate zone, with medium or short grains,

also called round grain, and is a rainfed lowland rice of warm tropical zones. Indica is an

irrigated rice of warm tropical zones, with long, thin and flat grains.

The Asian rice (Oryza sativa) was adapted to farming in the Middle East and

Mediterranean Europe around 800 B.C. The Moros brought it to Spain when they

conquered the country, near 700 A.D. After the middle of the 15th century, rice spread

throughout Italy and then France, later propagating to all the continents during the great

age of European exploration. In 1694 rice arrived in the South Carolina, probably

originating from Madagascar. The Spanish took it to South America at the beginning of

the 18th century.

Between 1500 and 800 B.C., the African species (Oryza glaberrima) propagated

from its original center, the Delta of Niger River, and extended to Senegal. However, it

never developed far from its original region. Its cultivation even declined in favor of the

Asian species, possibly brought to the African continent by the Arabians coming from the

East Coast from the 7th to the 11th centuries.

Historians believe that while the indica variety of rice was first domesticated in the

area covering the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas (i.e. north-eastern India), stretching

through Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Southern China, the japonica variety was

domesticated from wild rice in southern China which was introduced to India before the

time of the Greeks. Chinese records of rice cultivation go back 4000 years.

The earliest remains of cultivated rice in the sub-continent have been found in the

north and west and date from around 2000 BC. Perennial wild rices still grow in Assam

and Nepal. It seems to have appeared around 1400 BC in southern India after its

domestication in the northern plains. It then spread to all the fertile alluvial plains

watered by rivers. Cultivation and cooking methods are thought to have spread to the

west rapidly and by medieval times, southern Europe saw the introduction of rice as a

hearty grain. Some says that the word rice is derived from the Tamil word arisi.

Rice is first mentioned in the Yajur Veda (c. 1500-800 BC) and then is frequently

referred to in Sanskrit texts. In India there is a saying that grains of rice should be like

two brothers, close but not stuck together. Rice is often directly associated with

prosperity and fertility, hence there is the custom of throwing rice at newlyweds. In India,

rice is always the first food offered to the babies when they start eating solids or to

husband by his new bride, to ensure they will have children.

Distribution:

Rice is concentrated in the areas where water management is convenient on flat

lands, river basins and delta areas. Rice will furnish under such widely differing

environment that it is difficult to define an ideal environment for its growth and

development. Highest yields are usually obtained in countries enjoying a subtropical or

warm temperate climate.

Rice cultivation in the world extends from 390S latitude (Australia) to 450N

latitude (Japan) and 500N latitude (China). Most extensive rice growing areas are within

450N and 450S latitudes. Highest yields are recorded between 300 and 450N of the

equator. In India, rice is grown from 80 to 34 0N latitudes. It is also grown in areas below

the sea level as in kuttand of Kerala. It also grows well at altitudes above 1979 m as in

parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

One of the main reasons for the wide range of adaptability under which the crop is

grown is the great diversity of cultivars. They differ greatly in their tolerance to drought

and flooding, some being drought tolerant while others are flood tolerant. Cultivars are

available for cultivation with normal irrigation water and also with brackish water.

Asia Rice distribution 2005 (Sources IRRI)

Rice distribution world (sources 2005 IRRI)

Rice Ecosystems in India

Rice farming is practiced in several agro ecological zones in India. No other

country in the world has such diversity in rice ecosystems than India. Because cultivation

is so widespread, development of four distinct types of ecosystems has occurred in India,

such as:

Irrigated Rice Eco System

Rainfed Upland Rice Eco System

Rainfed Lowland Rice Eco System

Flood Prone Rice Eco System

Irrigated Rice Eco System

Irrigated ecosystems are the primary type found in East Asia.

Irrigated ecosystems provide 75% of global rice production.

In India, the total area under irrigated rice is about 22.00 million hectares, which

accounts about 49.5% of the total area under rice crop in the country.

Rice is grown under irrigated conditions in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar

Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Karnataka,

Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Irrigated rice is grown in bunded (embanked), paddy fields.

Rainfed Upland Rice Eco System

Upland zones are found in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

In India, the total area under upland rain fed rice in the country is about 6.00

million hectares, which accounts13.5% of the total area under rice crop in the

country.

Upland rice areas lies in eastern zone comprising of Assam, Bihar, Eastern M.P.,

Orissa, Eastern U.P., West Bengal and North-Eastern Hill region.

Upland rice fields are generally dry, unbunded, and directly seeded.

Land utilized in upland rice production can be low lying, drought-prone, rolling,

or steep sloping.

Rainfed Lowland Rice Eco System

Rainfed low-land rice is grown in such areas as East India, Bangladesh, Indonesia,

Philippines, and Thailand, and is 25% of total rice area used worldwide.

In India, low land rice area is about 14.4 million hectares, which accounts 32.4 %

of the total area under rice crop in the country.

Production is variable because of the lack of technology used in rice production.

Rainfed lowland farmers are typically challenged by poor soil quality,

drought/flood conditions, and erratic yields

Flood Prone Rice Eco System

Flood-prone ecosystems are prevalent in South and Southeast Asia, and are

characterized by periods of extreme flooding and drought. Yields are low and variable.

Flooding occurs during the wet season from June to November, and rice varieties are

chosen for their level of tolerance to submersion.

Rice ecosystems in India represent 24% of irrigated areas, 34% of rainfed

lowlands, 26% of flood-prone areas and 37% of rainfed uplands cultivated to rice in the

entire world

International Rice Ecosystems

Different rice ecosystems are as follows:

Deep water ecosystem

Irrigated ecosystem

Tidal wetland ecosystem

Rainfed lowland ecosystem

Rainfed upland ecosystem

1. Deep water ecosystem : About 13 million hectares are under deep water and tidal

wetlands rice. Mostly in south Asia. These are the regions where rice grows under

rainfed dryland or shallow flooding conditions for 1-3 months and is then subjected to

flooding with water depth of more than 50 cm for a month or longer. These areas are

found in the river basins of Ganges and Brahmaputra in India and Bangladesh, the

Irrawaddy in myanamar, the meanamar, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam and Cambodia

and the Chao Pharaya in Thailand.

2. Irrigated ecosystem: Irrigated rice ecosystems are those areas that have assured

irrigation for one or more crops per year. About 57% of world area under rice (about

43 million ha) area under irrigation. Yield levels achieved are 4-7 t ha -1 crop-1. There

are three rice environments in this ecosystem, namely, irrigated with favorable

temperature, irrigated with unfavorable temperature-tropical zone and irrigated with

unfavorable temperature-temperate zone.

3. Tidal wetland ecosystem: Tidal wetlands are the areas where the land meets the sea.

These areas are periodically flooded by seawater during high or spring tides or, are

affected by the cyclic changes in water levels caused by the tidal cycle. Salt marshes

and mud flats are some typical types of tidal wetlands found along New York's marine

shoreline. Tidal wetlands are classified by the amount of water covering the area at

high and low tides and the type of vegetation.

4. Rainfed lowland ecosystem: The rainfed lowland ecosystem covers 38 million ha or

27 per cent of the rice area of the world. These are rice growing areas with bunded

fields. Where water depth does not exceed 50cm for more than 10 consecutive days

and the fields are inundated for at least part of the season. No water

harvesting/conservation facilities are available on the farm and there is no irrigation

water available.

5. Rainfed upland ecosystem : This ecosystem covers  a about  18 million hectares of

which 64 per cent is located in Asia, 25 per cent in Latin America and 11 per cent in

Africa. These are rainfed rice areas with bunded or unbunded fields. Soils are well

drained and therefore no surface water accumulates. Soils are low in fertility and

weeds are a major constraint; in many regions soils tend to be acid. In the hilly

regions mono-cropping rice is practiced and it is detrimental to soil and environment

Rice based cropping systems in India

In rice growing areas several crop combinations (cropping systems) are in practice

based on agro-ecological conditions, market and domestic needs and facilities available

with farmers, some of the most prominent ones are being discussed under:

 

1. Mixed varietal cropping of rice. System of mixing seed of early rice (ahu) with late

maturing deep water rice (bao) is being practices in West Bengal to avoid total crop loss

at the event of flood. The seed of both the types of mixed in 1:1 ratio and has given

higher yield than sole cropping of either type. Similarly growing of a mixture of autum

and winter varieties in 3:1 ratio in Tamil Nadu (known as udo) and Kerala (called as

koottumundkan) is very much in practice. However, under normal conditions it has

created problems in performing agricultural operations like harvesting, deciding fertilizer

doses etc.

 

2. Intercropping rice with other crops. It is a common practice under upland conditions

in north and north-eastern part of the country to grow rice intercropped with black gram,

green gram, sesame, maize, finger millet or other miner millets. The ratio of rice and inter

crop is preferred to be 3-4:1.

 

3. Relay/paira/utera cropping. The seed of succeeding crops like lentil, gram, pea,

lathyrus, berseem, linseed etc. is sown broadcast in maturing rice crop. This practice

saves time; money (to be spent on land preparation etc.) utilizes residual fertility. This

practice is common in both upland and lowland rice culture.

 

4. Sequential cropping in rice. Sequential cropping refers to the crops grown as

preceding or succeeding with rice as shown below;

Irrigated conditions under upland

Rice-Rice-Rice Rice-Chickpea

Rice-Rice-Cereal Rice-Lentil

Rice-Rice-Pulses Rice-Mustard/Linseed

Rice-Wheat-Pulse Rice-Barley

Rice-Toria- Wheat Rice – Wheat

Rice – Wheat Rice – Wheat

Rice – Mustard Rice – Pea

5. Rice under integrated farming system

Rice-Fish-Poultry

Rice-Fish-Duckery

 

In North India where irrigation facilities exist, a number of cropping systems of

crops involving rice are feasible. After harvest of rice, crops like potato, berseem, toria

etc., can be sown and will fit very well in intensive crop rotations. In rainfed areas too,

where the soils are well drained and have good moisture retention capacity, legume crops

like chickpea, lentil could be grown s

Table 2: Comparison of areas (in 000 ha) under rice-based cropping systems

System 1985-86 1996-97 Change in area (%)Rice-rice 67.2 59.6 -7.6Rice-groundnut 17.1 18.9 +1.8Rice-pulses 0.7 11.3 +10.6Rice-fallow 0.4 12.8 +12.4Rice-vegetables 0.8 4.5 +3.5

Rice-maize 0.6 2.5 +1.9Total 86.8 109.6 +22.6Additional summer rice area

67.2 59.6 -7.6

Total rice area 154.0 169.2 +9.4 

Source: Diagnostic sample survey in 14 taluks (140 villages, 700 farmers) of the

southern transition zone of Karnataka

Uses of rice:

Medicinal properties

Rice is believed by some to have medicinal properties. Although, this is not

scientifically proven effective, it has been used in many countries for medicinal purpose.

For example:

Philippines: Rice polishings-the bran-is extracted and used as an excellent source of

Vitamin B to prevent and cure beri-beri.

Malaysia: In the Medicinal Book of Malayan Medicine, it is prescribed that boiled

rice "greens" can be used as an eye lotion and for use with acute inflammation of the

inner body tissues. The book also recommends applying a mixture of dried, powdered

rice on certain skin ailments.

Cambodia: The hulls (husk) of mature rice plants are considered useful for treating

dysentery. The hulls of a three-month old rice plant are thought to be diuretic.

China: The Chinese believe rice strengthens the spleen, as well as "weak stomach,"

increases appetite, and cures indigestion. Dried sprouted rice grains were once used as

an external medicine to aid in digestion, give tone to muscles, and expel gas from the

stomach and intestines.

Medicinal Action Uses

1. Light and digestible food: for those in whom there is any tendency to diarrhoea or

dysentery.

 

2. Ricewater (Decoction of rice): recommended in the Pharmacopceia of India as an

excellent demulcent, refrigerant drink in febrile and

inflammatory diseases, and in dysuria and similar

affections.

 

3. Finely powdered rice flour : Erysipelas, burns, scalds etc 

Uses of rice

Rice is primarily a high energy food.

Rice bran one of the by-products of rice milling is used as cattle and poultry feed.

Rice hulls can be used in manufacturing insulation materials, cement and card

board and as litter in poultry production.

Rice straw can be used as cattle feed as well as litter during winter reason.

Rice straw forms a substrate for mushroom production.

Straw is also used as roofing