RICE
- AGRICULTURE
News:
India’s smaller rice crop
paves way for prolonged export curbs
What's
in the news?
●
For the first time in eight years, India’s
rice output is expected to drop this year, raising the prospect that Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s government will extend curbs on exports of the grain
to keep a lid on food prices ahead of elections.
Key
takeaways:
●
Production in India, the world’s largest rice exporter, is under unusually
intense focus after New Delhi banned exports of non-basmati white rice in July,
sending global prices surging.
Rice:
1.
Geographical Conditions of Growth:
●
Rice grows best in areas of warm, humid climate.
●
It requires temperatures between 20°C and
35°C and a well-distributed rainfall of about 100 cm or irrigation facilities.
2.
Fertile soil:
●
Delta
and valley soils are the most suitable.
●
Soils
with higher clay content are preferred for its cultivation
due to their better moisture retention capacity.
Important
Producing Areas:
●
West
Bengal (highest producer), Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab (highest per hectare yield),
Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Haryana.
●
About 25% of the arable land is used for
the cultivation of rice.
●
India
is the 2nd largest producer in the world after China.
On the basis of climatic
conditions, three varieties of
rice are found in India:
●
Winter/
Agahani/ Aman – Planted in July-August and harvested in
October-December. 86% of the total rice cultivation comes under this variety.
●
Autumnal/
Kuari/Aus – Sown in May-June and harvested in September –
October.
●
Summer/Boro
– It is sown in November – December and harvested in March-April. It is grown
on 1% of the total rice area.
All the above mentioned 3
varieties (aman, aus, boro) are grown in West Bengal and Assam.
Important
varieties:
●
IR-8, Jaya, Padma, Hamsa, Krishna,
Sabarmati, and IET 1039.