Rice is the seed of a monocot plant Oryza sativa, of the grass family (Poaceae). As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East, South, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the West Indies. It is the grain with the second highest worldwide production, after maize ("corn").[1].
Since a large portion of maize crops are grown for purposes other than human consumption, rice is probably the most important grain with regards to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than one fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by the human species.[2]
A traditional food plant in Africa, rice has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.[3]
Rice is normally grown as an annual plant, although in tropical areas it can survive as a perennial and can produce a ratoon crop for up to 20 years.[4] The rice plant can grow to 1ÔÇô1.8 m tall, occasionally more depending on the variety and soil fertility. The grass has long, slender leaves 50ÔÇô100 cm long and 2ÔÇô2.5 cm broad. The small wind-pollinated
where are all these bad ass rice cars we read about on a weekly basis?
__________________
|