Rice is one of the most commonly consumed grains in the world, and what’s even more remarkable is that it is consumed in every country on the planet. It’s a product for which there is no shortage of customers and its regular demand. This is in sharp contrast to other products that only have seasonal demand. The farming process is quite basic and doesn’t require a lot of machinery, and if you can grow a good product, you can charge an excellent price.
If you think this is the business for you, here are some tips to help you get started:
The Right Weather
Like most other grains, rice needs hot weather to grow to its full potential. This is going to be a place that has at least four months of summer and where the temperature is around 100F. The overall growth cycle from seed to harvest for rice is around six months, with some varieties taking a little less or a little more time. During the entire growth cycle, you need hot weather, and as such, you will only be able to cultivate once per year. Rice is a very resilient crop; it can be grown at high altitudes, but it does best on flat land at lower altitudes.
The Right Seed
One thing that sets rice apart from other grains is that the seed isn’t planted directly into the soil. Instead, the seed is germinated in water first and then transferred to the ground. This is where a lot of farmers lose their seeds because they either don’t germinate them correctly or they don’t plant the seedlings properly. Ideally, you want high rice seed germination rates so that you have the most seedlings possible when you go to plant them. Also, you need to be careful when planting them, to not bury them too deep into the ground since this will cause the seedlings to suffocate and die.
Enough Water
A big problem with growing rice on a mountainside or at higher altitudes, in general, is that it’s harder to supply water and rice needs a lot of water. In most cases, rice fields get flooded with water so that the seed is submerged under at least 3 inches of water. Rice can grow without being flooded in water, but it still needs to be watered very generously and very frequently to keep the soil wet at all times. This is a challenge because, in such hot climates, water can be scarce, and it dries up very quickly under the hot sun.
Post-Harvest Management
With the growth process complete, the rice needs to be harvested carefully to get the full grain. Usually, rice plants are dried to allow the grain to completely solidify before it is harvested. This is a part of the process that requires skill and experience. With enough training, anyone can get the hang of it. Some people prefer to process the rice grains as they are, while others process them further to get a higher quality product.
With the global population constantly on the rise, our demand for food is only increasing. This trend is likely to remain the same for the foreseeable future. Rice is one of the oldest grains that humans have been eating. It is likely to stay in high demand for generations to come. While you can grow any kind of rice, it is best to grow a variety that your climate and environment can best accommodate.