Rice is a member of the grass family. Rice cultivation system

Basic rice Types and Varieties:
SHORT GRAIN- Short size grain also called Japonica is consumed mostly in South Asia and Pasific
LONG GRAIN - A longer grain named INDİCA is consumed by most of the world
BASMATI - An extra long aromatic grain grown in North Indian plains needs longer time and more care to cultivate.

By the year 2020 the worldwide consumption of rice will be 781 million tons compared to 455 million tons of 1990.. World total production is around 560 million tons. About 60 pct of total world crop is grown and consumed in China and India.

The leading producers:
China , India , Indonesia , Bangladesh , Vietnam ,Thailand ;Burma, Japan, Phlippines, Brasil and the United States.

There is only 5 percent of the worlds total production is traded and the prices are very volatile.

The leading Exporters: Thailand (5.8 mill tons),Vietnam (3 .5 mill tons ), US (2.75 ) , India ( 2 ) ,Pakistan (1.70 ) Leading Importers :Indonesia ,Brasil , Iran , Phlippines, Iraq