The Scoop on Rice

Is rice really one of the most important crops in the world? You better believe it. The last time you sat down to enjoy a bowl of rice; did you consider where it came from? What about the people who spent countless days in fields harvesting the crop? Or the people that rely on the nourishment provided by rice to survive? At Kahiki Foods, we use rice in many of our products and we believe that it’s important to learn about the cultures behind the foods that we consume. Rice is a staple food in many countries, nearly half of the world’s population, so I thought today we’d learn a bit more about the interesting life of this tiny grain.

Rice production occurs mainly in Asian countries. Within those countries, approximately 90 percent of the world’s rice is grown and consumed. Because rice is largely grown in irrigated areas, it can be grown year-round (another reason why rice is such a staple to so many). There are more than 200 million rice farms in Asia, making rice farming the main economic activity for the many within this region. Unlike much of the Western population, people in Asian countries eat rice two to three times per day. Asian consumers eat approximately 150 kg of rice each year. The average European only eats approximately 5 kg. If that’s not an indicator of the importance of this food to the Asian population, I don’t know what is.

With a history dating back to 5,000 BC, rice has been harvested and consumed by millions and an indicator of Asian cultural heritage. Not only has it been a source of food and nourishment for generations but it has also been used in ceremonies, as medicines and for artistry. Because of rice’s ability to grow in environments where other crops cannot, it is found largely in Asian countries and has become a recognizable part of their culture.

According to the International Rice Research Institute, “rice is the most important food crop of the developing world and a staple food for more than 3 billion people or more than half the world’s population. In 2009, 640 million undernourished people living in Asia were dependent on rice.”

Okay. I’m thoroughly amazed. Who knew that rice was so important? And we didn't even get into the specifics behind the harvesting process. I’d encourage you to continue to learn more about how this nutrient-rich crop and how it is benefiting millions of people today. Next time you’re enjoying your Kahiki Chicken Fried Rice or Beef Mongolian, think about the rice and the importance of this amazing crop.

Five Additional Facts About Rice

-In Cambodia, 90% of the total agricultural area is used for rice production.
-Three of the world’s four most populous nations are rice-based societies: People’s Republic of China, India, and Indonesia. Together, they have nearly 2.5 billion people (almost half of the world’s population).
-Improved varieties of rice are planted on three fourths of Asia’s rice land and are responsible for producing most of the continent’s rice.
-In several Asian languages the words ‘food’ and ‘rice’ are identical.
-65 kilos of rice are milled annually for every person on earth

Learn more about rice at:

http://irri.org/
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/rice.php
http://www.rice-trade.com/interesting-facts-about-rice.html

Find more about our rice-based products at www.kahiki.com.