Rice is primarily a high-energy food. It is a primary grain crop for more than 50% of the world’s population. Rice is an important food crop of India as it has the world’s largest area covering 41.9 million hectares with a total production of 83.13 million tonnes annually. Its area is about 37% of the total area under food grains as against 20% under wheat, another important food crop of India. However, globally it stands next to wheat in harvested area. In fact, about 65% of the people consume rice as part of their diet in India.

On an average, an Asian consumer eats about 150 kg of rice per year as compared to a European who consumes only 5 kg of rice in a year. It is grown in diversified soil types, topographical and hydrological situations varying from sloppy uplands to deep water conditions of above 1 m depth. It can be grown in hot and cool areas to adverse soil conditions such as salinity, alkalinity and acidity. Each and every part of the plant has various uses in society.

Rice is primarily a high-energy food. It is a primary grain crop for more than 50% of the world’s population. Rice is an important food crop of India as it has the world’s largest area covering 41.9 million hectares with a total production of 83.13 million tonnes annually. Its area is about 37% of the total area under food grains as against 20% under wheat, another important food crop of India. However, globally it stands next to wheat in harvested area. In fact, about 65% of the people consume rice as part of their diet in India.

On an average, an Asian consumer eats about 150 kg of rice per year as compared to a European who consumes only 5 kg of rice in a year. It is grown in diversified soil types, topographical and hydrological situations varying from sloppy uplands to deep water conditions of above 1 m depth. It can be grown in hot and cool areas to adverse soil conditions such as salinity, alkalinity and acidity. Each and every part of the plant has various uses in society.