Rice Part II This is a second of a four part series on rice the staple food of Goans
Eco-systems for rice growth. There are generally four eco-systems for rice growth in India and the world. Low-land Eco-system. Up-land Eco-system. Flood-prone Eco-system. Irrigated Eco-system. Rain-fed low-land kharif rice is the kind usually grown in India, and makes up 25% of the world's harvested rice. In an up-land ecosystem, rice is cultivated in non-flooded, well-drained soil usually following de-forestation. Crop yields are low and suffer from lack of moisture and inadequate nutrition. In a flood-prone ecosystem, rice is planted in the rainy season in fields which are flooded by rivers and sometimes tides in river mouth deltas. The latter regions have salinity and toxicity problems. But rice is often the only crop that can be grown in these flood-prone areas. In an irrigated system, rice is grown during the dry season in level and bunded fields with water control. The crops are heavily fertilized and yields are high. Rice grown under these conditions account for 55% of the world's harvested rice and 75% of world production. The expansion and stability of rice supply and price are due to advances in farming techniques, genetically engineered seed, and preservation of the harvest. India has four broad climatic regions based on the amount of rain. The Konkan coast of India and Assam have heavy rains. As rice yields are based on rain, any erratic precipitation during the vegetative period is disastrous. For example, crops are damaged by submergence due to high rainfall. Rice regions of India: Southern Peninsula. Mountain zone Indo-Gangetic plain Desert region The genus of rice is Oryza. Cultivated rice belongs to three species- Sativa, Glaberrima, and Rufipogon. The O. sativa is the most commonly cultivated variety. Rice farming has two basic steps: it is first planted in puddling soil and later transplanted as seedlings. Puddling breaks down the soil. Seedlings are grown separately at a higher density and now grown in a nursery. One-to-six-week-old seedlings are transplanted in standing water for higher yields and to give the plant a head start over competing weeds. Transplantation is adjusted to the planting calendar. The transplanting of seedlings used to be done manually (a back-breaking chore) but now it can be mechanized. Rice is a labor-intensive crop which requires human and animal efforts and is undertaken in small, irrigated, terraced paddy fields. Paddy needs a hot growing season, inundation of the field with water during parts of the growing season, and hence an abundant supply of water from heavy rains. In short, Goa's monsoon season is ideal for the growing of rice. Other factors for increased productivity of rice are land, soil, fertilizer and seeds. Most farmers cannot afford the investments for maximum production as they are unsure of the price support for their produce. But in areas of assured water supply, the farmers use short-duration, high-yielding modern varieties of rice, fertilizers, and improved agricultural practices. Technology in rice growth: Since 1960, high-yielding varieties of rice were introduced. Genetically engineered rice now being studied can result in very specific changes in a precise trait without affecting the overall performance or characteristics of the plant. The changes may improve disease and pest resistance, change nutritional or production qualities and its starch content or add value (vitamin and phyto-nutrients) to the grain by producing an alternative product in the seed. A germplasm bank can be the storing center for all kinds of crop germplasm. In the field of agriculture, advances are achieved through biotechnology and genetic engineering. After improving rice yields which resulted in the green revolution, efforts are being made to produce fungal, bacterial, viral, insect and herbicide resistant varieties. There are advances in the development of saline and drought tolerant varieties of grain and pulses which can increase agricultural productivity. If successful, the world will go through a second green revolution. The development of saline tolerant varieties is achieved by transferring genetic material from mangroves which tolerate high salt to different rice seeds which make them tolerate increased salinity. This is a major breakthrough since rising sea levels due to global warming are a concern. Saline tolerant varieties would definitely help raise the production of rice and other pulses in coastal regions. Modern molecular biological techniques can create drought tolerant crops by transferring the gene from prosopis and other plants which grow in dry areas. There is much room for research and advancement - a great field for those interested in agriculture and genetics. These fields are great opportunities that should attract Goan youth given their natural ties to the land. PS. 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