Dhaan ki Kheti," or rice cultivation, is an essential agricultural practice that involves growing ri ...
Rice
is the main staple food in Asia, where about 90% of the world's rice is
produced and consumed. China is the world's biggest producer, growing one-third
of Asia's total on 29 million ha. India produces nearly a quarter on 43 million
ha. Rice
is the most important food crop of India covering about one-fourth of the total
cropped area and providing food to about half of the Indian population.
This is the staple food of the people
living in the eastern and the southern parts of the country, particularly in
the areas having over 150 cm annual rainfall. There are about 10,000 varieties
of rice in the world out of which about 4,000 are grown in India.
Rice is
life for thousands of millions of people. In Asia alone, more than 2,000
million people obtain 60 to 70 per cent of their calories from rice and its
products. Recognising the importance of this crop, the United Nations General
Assembly declared 2004 as the �International Year of Rice� (IYR).
Season for Rice
Crop:
Since rice can grow in a variety
of climate and altitude it is cultivated in different seasons in different
parts of the country. In areas of high rainfall and low winter temperature
(northern and western parts) rice crop is grown once a year- during May to
November. Two or three crops are grown in the southern and eastern states.
India has three rice farming seasons- summer, autumn and winter. However, the
chief rice growing season is kharif season also called winter rice. The
sowing time is June-July and is harvested during November- December months. 84%
of the country's rice supply is grown in the kharif crop.
Rice cultivated during rabi
season is also called as summer rice. It is sown in the months of November to
February and harvested during March to June. 9% of total rice crop is grown in
this season. Early maturing varieties are normally grown during this time.
The pre-kharif or autumn rice is sown during May to August. The sowing time also depends on the rainfall and
weather condition. Hence the timing may differ slightly from place to place.
Generally, it is harvested during September- October months. 7% of the total
rice crop in India grows in this season and short duration varieties which
mature within 90-110 days are cultivated.
Soil for Rice
Cultivation:
Almost every type of soil can be
used for rice cultivation provided the region has a high level of humidity,
sufficient rainfall with irrigational facilities, and a high temperature. The
major types of soils for rice cultivation are black soil, red soil (loamy and
yellow), laterite soil, red sandy, terai, hill and medium to shallow black
soil. It can be even cultivated on silts and gravels. If the cultivating soil
has rich organic matter and if it powders easily on drying or forms a puddle
when wet then it is considered to be ideal.
Good grain quality
(especially cooking characteristics, colour, shape, taste and aroma)
� High market price
Optimum yield
potential and stability over seasons
Maximum tillering
capacity for weed competition
� Resistance or
tolerance to major diseases, insects, and other stresses (i.e.drought and
flood) of the area
The right growth
duration (maturity length) to match the season: Avoid
varieties that need to be planted or harvested earlier or later than
surrounding rice fields to minimize pest damage (e.g., birds
during maturation), and growth problems during times of harmful
environmental conditions (e.g., late-maturing varieties running out of
water)
Resistance to lodging
under normal farmer management
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Dhaan ki Kheti," or rice cultivation, is an essential agricultural practice that involves growing ri ...
