Rice is a grain belonging to
the grass family. It is related to other grass plants such as wheat,
oats and barley which produce grain for food and are known as cereals.
Rice refers to two species (Oryza sativa and Oryza
glaberrima) of grass, native to tropical and subtropical
southeastern Asia and to Africa, which together provide more than
one-fifth of the calories consumed by humans. The plant, which needs
both warmth and moisture to grow, measures 2-6 feet tall and has long,
flat, pointy leaves and stalk-bearing flowers which produce the grain
known as rice. Rice is rich in genetic diversity, with thousands of
varieties grown throughout the world.
Throughout history rice has been one of man's most important foods.
Today, this unique grain helps sustain two-thirds of the world's
population. It is life for thousands of millions of people. It is deeply
embedded in the cultural heritage of their societies. About four-fifths
of the world's rice is produced by small-scale farmers and is consumed
locally. Rice cultivation is the principal activity and source of income
for about 100 million households in Asia and Africa.
