Rice is not just a crop in India, but it’s a way of life for many states, as India is the second largest producer of rice in the global market, with 26% after China. India is also the second largest consumer of rice, from Kerala’s backwaters to Punjab’s flat plains, it’s the grain that feeds the nation for decades. Almost every meal in India has rice in some form, whether it’s rice, kheer, idlis, or dosa.

But the actual question is whether India’s procedure of almost 18 million tons of farming rice might be easy, or it’s just a misconception. To clear this question, let’s discuss rice farming with its steps for better understanding.

What is Rice Farming called?

The rice farming, also known as the Paddy cultivation, is one of the most difficult agricultural farming in India, and it is called paddy cultivation due to its generally being cultivated in flooded fields. The flooded fields provide the exact suitable environment for rice growth and help control weeds. 

India is among the top producers of rice, and rice farming generally happens in the Indo-Gangetic plains, coastal region, and hilly areas. The most rice-growing states in India are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu.

Types of Rice in India 

There are various types of rice present in India, and some of them are mentioned below:

• Basmati Rice: The basmati rice has long grain with an aromatic smell and is generally grown in North India (Punjab, Haryana & UP)
• Non-Basmati Rice:  The non-basmati rice has medium and short grain and is grown in various states of India.
• Brown Rice: This rice is not polished and contains its bran layer, that are rich in fiber
• Red Rice: It is a natural, red-colored variety grown in southern and northeastern regions.
• Chakhao or Black Rice: A rare variety from Manipur, rich in antioxidants.

What are the Tools Required?

Farming may look like an ancient occupation to many people, but farming technology is getting advanced to make farming more effective and sustainable. The modern tractors,  tillers, and harvesters are now common even in small villages. There are many innovations, and among them, John Deere tractors stand out due to their versatility & performance. Many farmers check the John Deere India price online before buying it, as the brand offers various models that balance fuel efficiency with multiple functions like puddling, hauling, and plowing.

Steps to Cultivate the Rice Crop:

Here are the steps a farmer needs to follow if they want to cultivate a  rice crop:

Prepare the Land

Rice crops require a lot of water. Therefore, farmers flood their fields before sowing. For the rice crop, the land should be flat and level so that the water can spread evenly over the crop. This stage is time-consuming, yet it is the very first step of a good harvest.

Today, most farmers use tractors instead of bullocks to do this work. Tractors like the Massey 245 and John Deere help them to finish the job in half the time. That’s important when farmers are facing changing weather.

Methods of Sowing the Seed

There are two major ways of planting rice crop:

• Transplanting
• Direct Seeding

In transplanting, the farmers first grow seedlings in a small nursery area. Later, when the seedlings are around three weeks old, they transplant them to a main flooded field. This is a more common method as it controls weeds better and provides stronger plants.

Direct seeding eliminates the nursery stage. Seeds are directly sown into the field. It saves labor but needs precise timing and good weed management. Some progressive farmers prefer this method, especially where labor costs are high.

Which method is better? 

Well, that totally depends on various aspects such as the condition of your soil, rainfall, and the size of your workforce. As in states like Bihar, Odisha, or Tamil Nadu, they still use the transplanting sowing method. But in parts of Haryana and Punjab, the growth of direct seeding is growing as people find it more suitable.

Planting the Rice Crop

After planting the crop, the real work comes for the farmer to grow rice. Farmers are required to watch for weeds, pests, and diseases of the crop. If a single week is missed, then it can ruin the field crop totally. In many regions, farmers use organic methods for pesticides, such as spraying neem water on the crop, while others go for light doses of fertilizers to boost yield.

The rain farming requires more attention and patience sometimes, due to heavy rain, the whole crop gets destroyed. Farmers are required to follow the trick of using the fertilizers in a balanced manner. However, experience and expert advice make crop cultivation a little easier.

Weather Checking/ Forecasting

Indian farmers are growing fast with technology. Some farmers use mobile apps for weather forecasts, WhatsApp groups for sharing tips, and YouTube videos for learning new techniques. The government of India also promotes digital learning of agriculture through its YouTube channel. Young farmers talk about soil health, crop rotation, and even use drones for spraying pesticides. But they did not forget the old method; they just evolved it with technology.

Framing machines like the Massey 245 still hold their place, but alongside them, farmers are tracking moisture levels of the fields to improve crop production. This practice is a mix of technology and tradition in farming.

Harvesting

After the crop matures then it’s time to harvest the crop. It involves cutting the crop, separating the grains from the husk, and cleaning the harvested grains. Harvesting can be done manually by using any available tool, like a sickle, or mechanically using a combine harvester. Those harvesting machines can finish the job in hours that take days to complete and are cleaner, quicker, and efficient.

After harvesting, farmers dry the grains in open yards. Then they’re sent to mills for processing to separate rice from the crop, and then that rice reaches our kitchen. That small bag of rice on our kitchen shelf carries months of effort and generations of skill.

Conclusion

Rice farming in India remains one of the major agricultural activities and provides a livelihood to millions across various regions. The different stages involved are land preparation, sowing, transplanting, irrigation, pest management, and harvesting. Modern technology has revolutionized these traditional techniques, making farming efficient and sustainable. 

Tractors, tillers, and harvesters do the work instead of human labor, which saves a great deal of time and energy. The forecasting of the weather, along with digital aids, helps farmers plan better and mitigate risk. Despite issues such as rainfall uncertainty and soil degradation, India remains among the top rice-producing countries in the world, meeting both domestic consumption and international demand for exports.