Amon

g the
exporti
ng
countri
es,
Thailan
d,
Vietna
m,
India
and
Pakista
n are
the
major
countri
es
exporti
ng rice
in
sizeabl
e
quantit
y.
India is
one of
the
richest
countri
es in
the
world
in
terms
of
posses
sing
tremen
dous
diversit
y in
rice
varietie
s.
There
are
differe
nt
varieti
es of
rice-
depend
ing on
the
weathe
r, soil,
structu
re,
charact
eristics
and
purpos
es.
Rice is
grown
under a
damp
warm
climate
.A
temper
ature
range
of
20ºC
to
37.7º C
(68º F
to 100º
F) is
require
d for
the
optimu
m
growth
of rice.
Rice
being a
semi-
aquatic
crop
grows
best
under
submer
ged,
waterl
ogged
conditi
ons.
Rice is
able to
tolerat
ea
wide
range
of soil
reactio
ns, but
has a
prefere
nce of
acidic
soils.
Rice
cultiva
tion is
found
in all
the
states
of
India,
but
West
Bengal,
Uttar
Prades
h,
Madhy
a
Prades
h,
Punjab,
Orissa
and
Bihar
are the
major
rice
produc
ing
states.
About
600
improv
ed
varieti
es of
Indica
rice
have
been
release
d for
cultiva
tion
since
1965