Indian Rice

Some Local Varieties of Rice in Bengal

Rice is the staple food of the populations in many countries especially the South East Asia, China and Japan. It is rich in carbohydrates and easy to digest. It goes particularly well with curries of fish and other vegetables. In Bengal, people eat the rice daily. It is considered very pious  and is used in many religious ceremonies. The local varieties may not be as productive as the varities developed for green revolution. But they are very nutritious because they contain many minerals besides the carbohydrates. A concoction made from rice and milk called Kheer is very popular sweet dish in… Read More »Some Local Varieties of Rice in Bengal

Gurdev Khush!!Rice Magician

Importance of Rice Rice is the staple food for the majority of population living in many Asian countries particularly those living along the coastal areas because fish and rice go along best. Rice is held in high esteem and is used in many religious ceremonies. For example in India Annapurna is the Hindu Goddess of rice. Her name comes from the Sanskrit word for rice, anna. She is often depicted with a rice spoon in her hand. Rice requires plenty of water for its growth and many flood prone areas in Bangladesh, rice is grown extensively. In contrast, wheat is… Read More »Gurdev Khush!!Rice Magician

Arsenic Poison in Drinking Water

Uncontaminated drinking water is hardly available to most of the poor population in the developing or under-developed countries. Water contaminated with bacteria, virus and dissolved ions in excessive amounts cause so many disease. Contamination of water can be natural or man induced. The reason for the contamination of water is that water is a universal solvent. It leaches away so many chemical compounds from the rocks exposed to it. Secondly, water makes up more than 70% of the area available on the Earth surface. Life began in the water. So many reactions necessary for the growth and reproduction of life… Read More »Arsenic Poison in Drinking Water

Revival of local rice varieties in India

In order to increase the yield of rice to meet the needs of food in the country, high yield laboratory engineered rice varieties also called hybrid varieties have replaced the local varieties which yield less all over the country. Many areas like Punjab and Haryana in North India which were not rice growing areas have become the major rice growers. This though has helped the Green Evolution and commercialised the farming, has played havoc by excessive water drainage from the underground and contamination of water by heavy metals present in the fertilisers and insecticides which cause many diseases. But the… Read More »Revival of local rice varieties in India