Essay: Rice

Rice

(Introduction, Kinds, Time of sowing and harvesting, Where grown, How grown, How obtained, Uses, Conclusion)

Rice is our principal food. This is one of the chief agricultural prod- ucts of the world. Rice is obtained from paddy. The alluvial soil of our country is very suitable for rice production. In Bangladesh, rice grows in plenty. But it is insufficient to meet the need of the people.

In Bangladesh, there are four kinds of rice such as - Aush, Amon, Boro and Irri.

Aush is sown in Chaitra and Baishakh and reaped in Shraban and Bhadra. Amon is sown in Ashar and Shraban and reaped in Agrahayon and Poush. Boro is sown in low marshy land where water stands till the winter season. Irri is generally sown all the year round.

Rice grows in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Ceylon, Thailand, Japan, Phillipines, Myanmar, America and some other parts of the world.

Warm but moist climate and low lands are suitable for paddy cultivation. There are two systems of paddy cultivation. These are sowing and transplantation. The land is first ploughed, harrowed and manured well. The seeds of paddy are then sown. Plants come out in a few days. Then the plants are transplanted. After some days, the fields are weeded. Paddy ripens in three or four months.

Ripe paddy is cut, brought home and separated from the straw with the help of cows and bullocks. Afterwards, it is dried in the sun. The dried paddy is husked in mills. Thus, rice is obtained. We make many kinds of food by using rice. Cakes, Muri, Chira and khoi are made from rice. Some marvellous food such as polao, Biryani, Khichuri are also made from it. The straw is used as food for cattle. The husk is used as fuel.

Rice is the most popular food in Bangladesh. Most of the people of our country live on it. It is a matter of regret that sufficient rice can not be produced owing to natural calamity. Moreover, our population is increasing by leaps and bounds. Consequently, people suffer for want of rice. So, we should take special care for self-sufficiency in rice production.