Paddy, or rice, is India's most significant food crop, accounting for a quarter of the country's total planted land. Approximately half of India's population consumes paddy. A large portion of the world's population, mainly in Asia, consumes it. It is the agricultural food crop with the third-highest global production after sugarcane and maize. Paddy is one of the world's oldest crops.

Around 5000 years ago, it was grown in its biggest form in China. Paddy has been grown in India since 3000 BCE. It was discovered by farmers and aboriginal people, not by scientists.

Paddy cultivating countries

Paddy can be successfully grown in hot climates. The majority of the world's paddy is grown in Southeast Asia, with China, Japan, India, Indochina, Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka being the top producers. Paddy farming is also popular in Italy, Egypt, and Spain. The largest paddy-growing states in India include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

Choose the varieties of paddy according to your region

The farmer should choose the varieties of paddy according to their region, while varieties of paddy are developed according to the different region in the state, because the soil, environment of every place is different.

Unirrigated condition: Narendra-118, Narendra-97, Saket-4, Barani Deep, dry emperor, Narendra Lalmani

Irrigated condition: Early ripening varieties for irrigated areas include Pusa-169, Narendra-80, Pant Paddy-12, Malaviya Paddy-3022, Narendra Paddy-2065, and medium ripening types include Pusa-169, Narendra-80, Pant Paddy-12, Malaviya Paddy-3022, Narendra Paddy-2065. The main varieties include Pant Paddy-10, Pant Paddy-4, Sarju-52, Narendra-359, Narendra-2064, Narendra Dhan-2064, Pusa-44, and PNR-381.

Varieties of paddy for the land: Narendra Osar Paddy-3, Narendra Paddy-5050, Narendra Osar Paddy-2008, Narendra Osar Paddy-2009.

Varieties of Rice

In India, there are 3000 varieties of rice, some of which are available in a short amount of time. Rice types with a short maturation period are ready in 60 to 75 days. IR-5, IR-20, IR-22, and Taichung are among the high-yielding rice seeds.

Yield:

The average rice production in India is around 2000 kg per hectare, which is three times that of 1950-51, but Egypt (6500 kg / ha), United States (6500 kg / ha) and Japan (6400 kg / ha). The main reason for low production per hectare is not to use water, manure etc. properly.

(Also read: Two New Technologies to Boost Rice Production and Conserve Natural Resources)

Two New Technologies to Boost Rice Production and Conserve Natural Resources