It is said that the roots of rice lie
in East India. Research studies show that the
indica variety of
rice was first domesticated in south of the Himalayas within a region
spanning eastern India, Myanmar and Thailand.
Today, the Eastern part of India is of special importance with regard
to food security in India. About 30 million tonnes of the total 82
million tonnes, that is more than one-third of rice produced in India in
1998/99, were contributed by East Indian States.
Almost all the states in East India cultivate rice but there
are four major states. They are :
- West Bengal
- Bihar
- Orissa
- Assam
Let us browse through various varieties of rice cultivated
in East India with their important characteristics.
