Why Is Rice an Important Food Crop?

Rice is a staple food for more than half the world's population.

Rice is an important food crop because it is a staple food for more than half of the world's population. In 2008, more than 430 million metric tons of rice were consumed worldwide, according to the USDA.

History

Rice is the seed of the Oryza sativa plant. Most civilizations have a long tradition of growing and consuming rice. Chinese records show that rice was being grown there 4000 years ago, while African and Indian records date back 3500 years. Today, Asia is the world's largest producer of rice, providing 92 percent of the annual harvest.

Benefits

Rice is a relatively fast-growing crop with a high rate of return. One acre of field may yield as much as 8000 pounds of rice, making it an efficient crop to cultivate. Rice grows best in a warm, humid climate, usually in a paddy of standing water about five inches deep.

Nutrition

Rice is primarily a carbohydrate source, and is classified as a grain. It is high in selenium and manganese, and provides a number of other trace minerals, in addition to several of the B vitamins, including niacin and thiamine. In general, the less processed the grains of rice are, the higher the nutritive value.

References

• USDA: Improving Rice, A Staple Crop Worldwide
• Rice Trade: Worldwide Rice Production
• Rice Trade: Rice History
• Nutrition Data: Brown Rice
• California Rice Commission: How Rice Grows