Introduction
Rice is the major crops consumed across the entire world, ranked at position one as the world’s vital dietary stable food, ahead of others like banana, corn and wheat. It belongs to the grass family of crops, other members in the same family include grass, bamboo, and marijuana. It has more than 120,000 varieties, which include black and white strains.
The maximum height of growth is 10 feet with a shooting rate of eight inches daily. Growing of this food is mainly for both subsistence and exporting purposes. Some nations devote their agricultural efforts in rice production. China, for instance, is the major producer of this food. Its consumption is above most countries engaging in the business (Xing & Zhu, 2000). Data show that almost a third of world’s production and consumption takes place in China (Montero, 2008).
This constitutes close to 200 million tonnes on annual basis. In past years, whenever production fell below the consumption limits, it would import the extra metric tonnes. This case happened in 2004, after its production fell by close to 30 million metric tonnes (Choudhury & Kennedy, 2005).
Production of this commodity in China is possible because of the application of novel scientific technology in agricultural segment. First, the strain that copes with the climatic condition of the area is a key factor. High production comes from the high yield dwarf strain. This is a cross breed between Mexican or Philippines wheat and cold weather Chinese strain (Xing & Zhu, 2000).
Enormous success has come by application and use of this breed, less land gives more yields when compared to similar space with other strains. Rice also comes with other important application other than consumption because their straws make sandal, hats, ropes, and roof thatching patches (Choudhury & Kennedy, 2005).
Growing and harvesting rice
Preparation of rice takes place in nurseries where their seedlings are prepared in readiness for planting seasons. Transplanting takes place after attaining certain conditions. These involve making sure the seedlings attain a given height. Preparation of land for planting prior to their introduction is also paramount; in China, this happens in paddy fields. These are parcels of arable lands, their building occurs in steeply hillsides.
This must have adequate reliable supply of water that will irrigate the land for the entire growing season. This consumes large quantities of irrigating water and labour (Directorate of Rice Development, 2001). The flooding condition makes it difficult for weed growth, hence, the practice will often require minimal weeding. Rice growth prefers these conditions. Soil cultivation is an important factor in both large and small-scale production.
Clay soil has a good water retention capacity. Their particles are compact and, thus, minimal chances of draining water deep in their profile (Abdullah et al., 2009). These characteristics make it viable for rice growth in China. The levels of water flooding paddy increase as seedlings grow until they are ready for harvesting, and this takes place after approximately three months from the date of planting. Once ripen, gradual lowering of water quantity is important. This must happen until the land is dry (USDA, 1994).
The main indicator of a mature crop is their colouration. Golden yellowing sets in once the land is dry and the crop droops. Harvesting takes place in a number of ways like using machine or hand, this will depend on the farm orientation and level of mechanization. Hand harvesting will involve cutting the top half inch of the crop or the entire stalk and using the appropriate method of releasing the crop from the figs. Drying is important to reduce water content to around 20% (Abdullah et al., 2009).
Geographical conditions
Rice varieties have different requirements for growth; however, several conditions are optimum for any variant. These conditions form the basis of successful rice growth in Chinese paddy areas. The most important weather pattern is adequate rainfall. This depends on many factors like topographical location, existence of mountains or plateau, forest and terrains (USDA, 1994).
Chinese weather patterns cannot adequately favour this aspect and, thus, the need to adapt new scientific approach (agro-biodiversity) that can suit adequately their situation. Development of paddy fields around rivers and lakes makes it possible not to depend on rainfall for this precious condition to farm. They have also cross-breed a Chinese strain, which is unique to her climatic conditions because it can withstands unpredicted harsh climatic conditions.
With an ambient temperature of about 30oC at day and 20oC at night from a range of (20-40) oC, China would face unfavourable climatic conditions because these are only possible in the tropics and sub-tropical regions (Montero, 2008). Poor soils make it difficult for effective management of the practice, and this becomes worse with environmental mismanagement resulting in erosion of soils that losses plant nutrition.
A delay in growing seasons happens in the lowlands that experiences monsoon seasons. Other challenges facing this faming are the onset of insects, pests’ infestations and weeds. Chinese have come up with both autonomous and planned adaptation strategies to cope with strange climatic conditions that may hinder this farming. This copes with climatic changes. These are investments in water storage, diversification of crops, and system irrigation (Interfax, 2012).
Geographical production of rice
Growing of rice largely depends on climatic conditions, which include adequate supply of rainfall throughout the farming season. However, some nations have invented new methods in this farming by applying scientific innovations. Rice production in the world takes varying perception based on their nutritional contents. The table below gives a brief summary from selected zones where there is serious agricultural practice in rice farming (Chapagain & Hoekstra, 2011).
Table showing nutritional aspect of rice consumption in selected countries in the world
Source: (Chapagain & Hoekstra, 2011).
This shows that there are specific reasons for this cultivation in different parts of the world, where every country has its own unique factors in the agricultural practice. Rice growing occurs in regions falling within the tropics and sub-tropics, other nations have adapted their own agricultural methods despite their harsh climatic conditions. China is a good example where this occurs in highlands and steep areas by using paddy fields (Shoichi et al., 1989).
Rice serves well as an important economic commodity because it takes approximately three months to harvest the produce from the farms. In places where weather patterns are not important factors in determining its production, a record three harvest is possible. This makes it easily available across the entire world irrespective of seasons. Its trading is possible in the sense that it is the most consumed produce in the world. This provides a ready market for farmers and the countries of production (Chapagain & Hoekstra, 2011).
Human Geographical connection
In China, rice is the main subsistence crop, world consumption, and production is mainly a Chinese thing. In fact, close to a quarter of Chinese land is under rice production. The southern region is the main producer of his commodity, largely because the region has Huai River that cuts across Yangtze Valley.
Another important area within the growing zone is Delta Zhujiang as well as Yunna Guizhou (Shoichi et al., 1989). These regions are within the greater provinces of Sichuan. Cultivation mainly takes place in paddy fields, which are deliberately flooded with water to offer optimum growing conditions (Interfax, 2011).
Some of the changing conditions taking shape in the Chinese context are the application of new approaches to adapt to their harsh climatic conditions and give the practice the needed attention. Most lands, initially unproductive, are now under paddy field to give more room for rice production.
This involves production of rice in both large-scale and small-scale (Shoichi et al., 1989). Farmers with small pieces of land who cannot afford the resistant strains that give high yields get incentives and other inputs to increase production prospects for the entire country (Directorate of Rice Development, 2001).
Planting will take place in large-scale of parcels of arable lands, which occur in steeply hillsides. This must have adequate reliable supply of water that will irrigate the land for the entire growing season. This consumes large quantities of irrigating water and labour. The flooding condition makes it difficult for weed growth, hence, the practice will often require minimal weeding.
Development of paddy fields around rivers and lakes makes it possible not to depend on rainfall for this precious condition to farm. They have also cross-breed a Chinese strain unique to her climatic conditions because it can withstands unpredicted harsh climatic conditions. Rice growth prefers these conditions (Zeigler & Barclay, 2008).
Rice provides good economic implications to farmers because there is a ready market that largely depends on this product for their daily food consumption. This makes it possible for farming communities to get their rewards and thus devote their full dedication in the practice.
Conclusions
Rice production in China is currently the main economic activity because the country is the main consumer of this commodity. Replication of this in other countries across the tropics and sub-tropics increases world production. The implication of this practice is a steady supply of food to over 3.5 billion people in the world. This provides good returns to farmers as well as the country in terms of export duties (Zeigler & Barclay, 2008).
References
Abdullah, A.B., Shoichi, I., & Adhana, K. (2009). Estimate of Rice Consumption in Asian Countries and the World towards 2050. New York. Tottori University.
Chapagain, AK., & Hoekstra, A.Y. (2011). The blue, green, and grey water footprint of rice from production and consumption perspectives. Ecological Economics, 70, 749–758.
Choudhury, A.T.M.A., & Kennedy, I.R. (2005). Nitrogen fertilizer losses from rice soil and control of environmental pollution problems. Communications in Soil Sciences and Plant Analysis, 36, 1625–1639.
Directorate of Rice Development. (2001). Rice in India—a handbook of statistics. Web.
Interfax. (2011). Shanghai sets up green super rice research center. China Business Newswire, p.1.
Interfax. (2012). Buying imported food for state reserves ‘intolerable’. Food & Agriculture Weekly, p.1.
Montero, D. (2008). Roots of Asia’s rice crisis. Christian Science Monitor, 100(103), 1-11.
Shoichi, I., Eric, J.E., Wesley, F.P., & Warren, R.G. (1989). Rice in Asia: Is it becoming an Inferior Good? American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 71, 32-42.
USDA. (1994). Major world crop areas and climatic profiles. World Agricultural OutlookBoard. Washington DC.: U.S.Department of Agriculture.
Xing, G.X., & Zhu, Z.L. (2000). An assessment of N loss from agricultural fields to the environment in China. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 57(1), 67.
Zeigler, R.S., & Barclay, A. (2008). The relevance of rice. Rice, 1(1), 3–10.