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Do you know why India is the second largest rice producer in the world? You will never expect this key factor!
India's rice production is not only vital to its economy, it also plays a pivotal role globally. As the world's second largest rice producer, India not only produces huge amounts of rice, but is also one of the largest rice exporters.
As data shows, India's rice production increased from 53.6 million tons in 1980 to 120 million tons in the 2020-21 fiscal year, showing the importance of this crop in the national economy.
Rice is considered one of India's major food crops, and the country also has the largest rice-growing area. Since rice is the major food crop, it dominates agriculture in India. As a tropical plant, rice thrives in hot and humid climates and is grown primarily in rain-fed areas with abundant annual precipitation. Thus, rice as a Kariv crop became the cornerstone of Indian agriculture.
Rice requires more than 100 centimeters of rainfall in a year and temperatures above about 25 degrees to develop.
In India, rice can be grown using different methods, which vary depending on the climate and soil characteristics of different regions. Still, India relies on traditional harvesting methods. Farmland is first plowed and fertilizer, usually made from cow dung, is applied and then the fields are leveled. The seeds are then transplanted manually and cultivated with proper irrigation.
The type of soil is crucial to the growth of rice. Rice can grow in a variety of soils, including fine soil, loam and gravel, and clay soil is the most suitable for the growth of this crop.
During cultivation, the soil must be kept moist and flooded during its growth. Rice fields should be kept flat and have low mud walls to retain moisture. In plain areas, excess rainwater is allowed to flood the rice fields and flow slowly. Thanks to the support of this agricultural technology, the production of lowland rice and highland dry rice has been developed, providing abundant resources to meet consumer demand.
In rice production in India, the agricultural characteristics of different regions are quite diverse. From the west coast to the east coast, it covers all the major deltas, such as the Assam plains and the states surrounding the low mountains and Himalayas, including West Bengal, Bihar, East Umpra and East India Madhya Pradesh. It is an important rice-producing area.
Thanks to India's long growing season and abundant rainfall, young farmers in these areas are able to meet their own and market needs, typically growing two to three crops per year.
The introduction of irrigation technology has enabled farmers to successfully grow rice even in the relatively dry climates of Punjab and Haryana and even export the remaining production to other states. The satisfaction of high production will not only ensure the stability of the domestic market, but also make India an important supplier of rice to the world.
Improvement measures focused on increasing yield per unit area have also received much attention across the country. For example, the introduction of high-yielding rice varieties, improved cultivation techniques, and the continued application of fertilizers have further promoted productivity improvements.
Although some states such as West Bengal, Assam and Orissa are capable of producing two crops of rice per year, in some cases rainfed areas often face the challenge of lower than expected unit yields.
India has four distinct seasons, and the winter climate is a challenge for rice growth. But in regions like South India and the East, summer and monsoon periods provide ideal conditions for cultivating rice due to moderate temperatures and heavy rainfall. Almost all areas in India are suitable for growing rice in summer, especially in low-lying areas where sufficient moisture is available.
Winter rice is a long-term crop, while summer rice is usually a short-term crop. In some eastern and southern regions, short-term and long-term rice cultivation alternate. Taken together, winter rice crops account for the vast majority of planting areas in all seasons, which has also contributed to the steady growth of production to a certain extent.
India undoubtedly plays an important role in the global agricultural supply chain, and its rice production and exports still have broad room for growth in the future. This also triggers people to think deeply about the potential and impact of agricultural economics.
So, with the advancement of science and technology and the rise of people's awareness of sustainable development, what changes will India's rice production usher in in the future?
